EU Member Claims West Could Have Prevented Ukraine Conflict
Hungary’s foreign minister asserts that discussions regarding Russia's security demands to the US and NATO might have averted the conflict in Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto believes that the current standoff between Russia and the West could have been averted through serious discussions regarding Moscow's security guarantees.
In December 2021, just two months prior to Russia's military operation in Ukraine, the country presented a set of security proposals to NATO and the US, demanding the withdrawal of military infrastructure to the borders established in 1997. A central aspect of this proposal was to cease NATO’s expansion, particularly in relation to Ukraine, which has long expressed interest in joining the alliance. The bloc, however, rejected this proposal based on its “open-door policy” for new members. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pointed out that a primary catalyst for the current conflict is the potential threat posed by Ukraine’s possible NATO membership.
In a Saturday interview with RIA Novosti, Szijjarto suggested that the Russian proposals could have been pivotal in avoiding the conflict in Ukraine.
“I remember those times. I think that what was missing there was a serious discussion… I do believe that if someone has an issue… then it should be discussed. And these discussions have not taken place, unfortunately,” he stated.
While Szijjarto acknowledged that speculating about what might have been is now irrelevant, he expressed a desire that such dialogues had occurred. He argued that, had they taken place, it might have changed the current situation.
In May, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov indicated that Moscow's proposal for security guarantees was no longer under consideration and that the focus of Russian diplomacy had shifted to “crisis management and the prevention of... a truly large-scale conflict.”
Szijjarto, along with other senior Hungarian officials, has consistently criticized the West's handling of the Ukraine crisis. He has urged both sides to pursue a ceasefire and initiate peace negotiations, while also condemning Western sanctions against Russia as ineffective and detrimental to the EU economy.
Russia has not dismissed the possibility of talks regarding Ukraine. Putin stated in June that Moscow would agree to a ceasefire and commence peace discussions if Ukraine were to withdraw its troops from the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, committing to neutrality. However, he later indicated that any dialogue was off the table as long as Ukrainian forces remained in parts of Russia's Kursk Region.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
In December 2021, just two months prior to Russia's military operation in Ukraine, the country presented a set of security proposals to NATO and the US, demanding the withdrawal of military infrastructure to the borders established in 1997. A central aspect of this proposal was to cease NATO’s expansion, particularly in relation to Ukraine, which has long expressed interest in joining the alliance. The bloc, however, rejected this proposal based on its “open-door policy” for new members. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pointed out that a primary catalyst for the current conflict is the potential threat posed by Ukraine’s possible NATO membership.
In a Saturday interview with RIA Novosti, Szijjarto suggested that the Russian proposals could have been pivotal in avoiding the conflict in Ukraine.
“I remember those times. I think that what was missing there was a serious discussion… I do believe that if someone has an issue… then it should be discussed. And these discussions have not taken place, unfortunately,” he stated.
While Szijjarto acknowledged that speculating about what might have been is now irrelevant, he expressed a desire that such dialogues had occurred. He argued that, had they taken place, it might have changed the current situation.
In May, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov indicated that Moscow's proposal for security guarantees was no longer under consideration and that the focus of Russian diplomacy had shifted to “crisis management and the prevention of... a truly large-scale conflict.”
Szijjarto, along with other senior Hungarian officials, has consistently criticized the West's handling of the Ukraine crisis. He has urged both sides to pursue a ceasefire and initiate peace negotiations, while also condemning Western sanctions against Russia as ineffective and detrimental to the EU economy.
Russia has not dismissed the possibility of talks regarding Ukraine. Putin stated in June that Moscow would agree to a ceasefire and commence peace discussions if Ukraine were to withdraw its troops from the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, committing to neutrality. However, he later indicated that any dialogue was off the table as long as Ukrainian forces remained in parts of Russia's Kursk Region.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
