NATO Could Have Prevented Ukraine War, Says Hungarian Foreign Minister

Sunday, October 13, 2024  Read time1 min

SAEDNEWS: The current standoff between Russia and the West could have been avoided if NATO and the US had engaged in serious talks on Moscow’s demand for security guarantees, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has argued.

NATO Could Have Prevented Ukraine War, Says Hungarian Foreign Minister

According to SAEDNEWS, A recent report suggests that the ongoing conflict between Russia and the West might have been avoided if NATO and the United States had engaged in serious discussions regarding Russia's demand for security guarantees. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto made this argument, highlighting the missed opportunities for diplomacy.

In December 2021, just two months before Russia began its military operation in Ukraine, the country presented a list of security proposals to NATO and the US. These proposals included a request for NATO to withdraw its military infrastructure to the borders established in 1997.

The main point of Russia's proposal was to stop NATO's expansion, particularly concerning Ukraine, which has been seeking to join the military alliance. However, NATO rejected the proposal, maintaining its "open-door policy" for new member states. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that one of the primary reasons for the ongoing conflict is the perceived threat of Ukraine potentially joining NATO, according to TASS.

This situation raises important questions about the role of diplomacy and communication in international relations, as the world continues to grapple with the consequences of the conflict.