US Ambassador Blasts Hungary’s Call for Ceasefire in Ukraine as ‘Cynical’

 

by Kyle Anzalone | Apr 26, 2023

Ambassador David Pressman’s Introductory Remarks at the Hungary-Ukraine Relations Panel Discussion

The top American diplomat in Hungary attacked Budapest for insufficient commitment to the NATO proxy war against Russia. The ambassador claimed that supporting a ceasefire in Ukraine was “cynical.”

Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman made the remarks during the opening of the Hungary-Ukraine Relations Panel on Wednesday. “It is cynical to call for a ceasefire when it is not your country that is almost 20 percent occupied by a foreign invading army,” he said. “The United States wants peace, one that is just and lasting. And that is precisely why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with the victims, with Ukraine.”

In February, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a ceasefire. “[Russia] cannot win because the entire Western world has lined up behind [Ukraine].” He Tweeted, “At the same time, [Russia] is a nuclear power and a nuclear power cannot be cornered because they may trigger a nuclear war. We need a ceasefire and peace talks. The sooner the better.”

“[Ukraine] is fighting valiantly and they have our full sympathy. But the only thing that can save lives in the [Ukraine War] is a ceasefire,” he added.   

Pressman said Budapest continuing to hinder dialogue between the North Atlantic Alliance and Ukraine is “untenable.” “Amidst a land war in Europe, consultations with our partner Ukraine are vitally important to our shared security as Allies, and Hungary’s policy of standing alone in an effort to block high-level meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission is untenable,” he said in his speech, adding, “and as was seen just last month, will no longer be accepted.”

Budapest takes issue with Kiev’s language laws process that impacts the 150,000 Hungarians living in Ukraine. In 2019, Hungary said it would block Ukraine from joining NATO over the laws. 

The NATO-Ukraine Commission has not met since 2019 because of Budapest’s objections. Last month, NATO civilian head Jen Stoltenberg announced the alliance would hold the meeting over Hungary’s protests. 

“This is an established framework. I have the mandate to convene it,” he said. “In respect for the issues that Hungary has raised I have not convened that for some time, but now I will continue to convene the meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.”

 

About Kyle Anzalone

Kyle Anzalone is news editor of the Libertarian Institute, opinion editor of Antiwar.com and co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Will Porter and Connor Freeman.

https://libertarianinstitute.org/news/us-ambassador-blasts-hungarys-call-for-ceasefire-in-ukraine-as-cynical/