“The Terrifying Risk of a Third World War Approaching”. Peter Szijjarto appeals to NATO allies

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned on Wednesday that sending NATO troops to Ukraine would be “really dangerous” and asked allies to refrain from any actions or statements that it would “bring the risk of a world war closer,” reports TASS.

“The terrifying risk of a Third World War is approaching”, declared Szijjártó in the interview granted to the Russian state agency TASS, published on Wednesday, according to News.ro. “Therefore, we will always call on all our allies and colleagues to refrain from any actions or statements that could bring the risk of a world war closer,” he assured.

Szzijarto was in Russia, in Sochi, on Monday, where he participated in the Atomexpo forum, on the topic of nuclear energy, in the conditions where Hungary is building a nuclear power plant in Paks with the help of Russia. Budapest has remained closer to Moscow than any other member of the European Union or NATO, with Hungary repeatedly opposing sending money and weapons to Kiev.

Szijjarto’s comments come after French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that the possibility of sending Western ground troops to Ukraine should not be “ruled out”. Macron’s comments sparked panic and were the target of immediate backlash from most NATO allies — though not all European leaders condemned his message, POLITICO notes.

“Words matter,” Szzijarto commented to TASS. “When it comes to the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, on behalf of some NATO member states, it’s really dangerous, because we don’t want to face a threat,” he said.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has maintained contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, and congratulated Putin on winning elections this month, which most Western democracies widely viewed as unfair.

Szzijarto assured that Hungary is keeping its communication channels open with Russia, adding that Putin and Orban can “talk at any time” if “there is a need to interact with each other”.

Publisher: CLB

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