Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto declared that the strategies adopted by Europe and the United States regarding the Ukrainian conflict have failed completely.
Speaking at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, one of Japan's foremost think tanks, Szijjarto critiqued the efficacy of Western policies, particularly the sanctions imposed on Russia.
Szijjarto reflected that the sanctions, originally intended to economically cripple Russia and expedite the end of the conflict, have not achieved their objectives.
"When we discussed the first sanctions package over two years ago, the goal was clear: to push Russia to its knees economically and bring the war closer to an end," he recalled.
"Is Russia on its knees economically? Far from it. Are we closer to the conclusion of the war? Definitely not."
Economic Impact on Europe
The Hungarian diplomat pointed out that the sanctions have gravely impacted the European economy, with unintended consequences.
One of Szijjarto's key points was the irony in Western European countries' claims of independence from Russian energy resources. Despite boasting about severing direct energy ties with Russia, these nations are still indirectly purchasing Russian energy, such as oil supplies from India.
This, he argued, undermines the efficacy and integrity of the sanctions.
Szijjarto also mocked the ongoing efforts to impose additional sanctions despite repeated failures.
"We are now discussing the fourteenth sanctions package. Do you understand? You’ve failed thirteen times with the same thing, and now you try the fourteenth. That’s a bit against Hungarian logic," he quipped, referencing the ingenuity of Hungarian inventions like the Rubik's Cube to illustrate his point.
