Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, in an interview with Fox News Digital, expressed his conviction that former President Donald Trump possesses the necessary influence to bring an end to the protracted conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Szijjártó invoked Reagan's doctrine of "peace through strength," suggesting that Trump's credibility is unmatched in this context. He went so far as to say, "If he doesn’t have the ability, no one has the ability."
Szijjártó critiqued the approaches taken by European leaders and the Biden administration, arguing that their pursuit of an "impossible" Ukrainian victory led to their failure. He pointed to Russia's battlefield gains despite substantial financial and military aid to Ukraine, underscoring the impracticality of the current strategy. "The battlefield reality shows the advance of the Russians," Szijjártó observed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via Reuters/Leah Millis/Alina Smutko)
Szijjártó believes Trump's unique standing with both Ukraine and Russia sets him apart. While other leaders may have once held similar influence, he argues they lost it by overtly siding with Ukraine against Russia. He also criticized European leaders for treating the conflict as their own, further hindering resolution efforts.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister emphasized the urgency of ending the war, stating, "If you really think that Ukraine should negotiate in its best shape, then we have to stop the war today because tomorrow Ukraine will be in a weaker position than today." He accused his European counterparts of failing to acknowledge the current realities on the ground.
Zelenskyy's recent call for expedited NATO membership or nuclear weapons was met with skepticism by retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's former envoy to Russia and Ukraine. Kellogg expressed doubt that such demands would be met.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at Trump Tower in New York City on Sept. 27, 2024. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo)
Trump's previous call for negotiations between Putin and Zelenskyy, along with his assertion that Zelenskyy was prepared to negotiate, was highlighted. Kellogg underscored Trump's unique position to facilitate a resolution, describing his relationship with Putin as "very transactional."
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump (Contributor/Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Trump's 2024 meeting with Zelenskyy at Trump Tower was recalled, during which Trump expressed his desire for a fair resolution to the conflict.
