In the wake of the US presidential election, the prospect of ending the war in Ukraine has never seemed closer, yet the threat of escalation looms larger than ever, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday (PST) in Washington, D.C. following his discussion with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for national security advisor, Mike Waltz. He added that the current US administration appears to be working to make a quick peace agreement after 20 January impossible.
The Hungarian FM stated that he had a friendly discussion with Waltz on bilateral relations and key geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine, which remains a significant concern for US policymakers. ‘It’s no coincidence that the war—whether to end it or continue it—was one of the key issues in the US presidential election campaign. While Donald Trump has clearly stated his intention to end the war, Kamala Harris has been advocating for its continuation,’ Szijjártó said.
‘We are very eager to see Donald Trump’s goal of bringing this war to a swift conclusion become a reality,’ Szijjártó said, cautioning that without such efforts, the risk of escalation would increase daily. He also emphasized the importance of keeping communication channels open.
The minister further noted that ‘the fact that American Republicans and Hungarian patriots think alike—in some cases even completely—on the most important global issues provides a very solid foundation for bilateral relations, which will undoubtedly reach a new dimension in the future.’
‘We are very eager to see Donald Trump’s goal of bringing this war to a swift conclusion become a reality’
Examples of shared priorities include the fight against illegal immigration, the protection of borders, and the defense of national sovereignty. ‘We want to base our policy on common sense. The family is very important to all of us, and we all speak the language of peace,’ Szijjártó said.
‘For me, the most important takeaway from today’s conversation with Mike Waltz is that we share the language of peace and recognize the risk of escalation. This risk is evident here in America, just as it is clear from our perspective in the region,’ Szijjártó noted.
‘The Democrats are pro-war, while the Republicans are pro-peace. So, our conversation today focused on peace as an important goal,’ Szijjártó continued. ‘We have no choice but to trust that nothing will happen in Ukraine between now and 20 January that would irreversibly change the situation, making peace-building much more difficult than it appears now.’
Team Trump for Peace
As reported by Hungarian Conservative, Donald Trump has nominated Mike Waltz to serve as national security advisor in his upcoming administration. In this role, Waltz is expected to oversee a strategic shift in addressing key international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East.
Waltz, a US Representative from Florida, served as defence policy director under Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates before being elected to Congress in 2018. He currently chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee overseeing military logistics and is a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence.
‘Trump also announced the creation of a new position of special envoy for Ukraine from 20 January 2025’
Waltz’s position on the war in Ukraine aligns with the incoming administration and Hungary. He has expressed scepticism about the continued provision of extensive US military aid to Ukraine, emphasizing that European nations must take greater responsibility to ensure regional stability. His stance includes supporting a peace plan aimed at integrating Ukraine more closely with Western alliances.
Trump also announced the creation of a new position of special envoy for Ukraine from 20 January 2025, and nominated Keith Kellogg for the role. Kellogg, who served as Chief of Staff for the White House National Security Council during Trump’s 2017–2021 term and as national security advisor to then-Vice President Mike Pence, is expected to play a crucial role in efforts to resolve the conflict, just like Waltz.
In this prospective position, Kellogg is likely to build on a peace plan he previously presented to Trump. The plan proposed conditioning Washington’s military and financial support to Ukraine on Kyiv’s willingness to negotiate with Moscow. Simultaneously, the United States would make it clear to Russia that any withdrawal from the talks would result in arming Ukraine to the teeth.
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