Peter Magyar, Hungary’s newly elected opposition leader, said Monday that Ukraine alone must determine the conditions of any peace settlement with Russia, while also opposing Kyiv’s accelerated path toward European Union membership.
“No one should tell Ukraine under what conditions it must enter peace or sign a peace treaty,” Magyar said in remarks to reporters. “We cannot ask any country to give up its territory. If they do, they would be considered traitors.”
Magyar acknowledged Ukraine as the victim of the conflict but struck a cautious tone on his own potential role in diplomacy. Asked whether he would engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said he would answer a phone call but would not initiate contact.
“If Vladimir Putin calls me, I will pick up the phone,” Magyar said. “I will not call him myself, but if we do talk, I can tell him to please stop the killing now, after four years.” He added that he did not expect his words to carry decisive influence with the Russian leader but expressed hope that Putin would ultimately be compelled to end the war regardless.