Hungary cautions against long-range missile strikes targeting Russia

09/03/2024 / By Richard Brown

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has cautioned against allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons for long-range strikes into Russia, warning of increased escalation risks.

“If long-range attacks hit Russian territory, the risk of escalation will only rise,” Szijjarto wrote on Facebook last week ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. “We don’t want this.”

The meeting, initially scheduled for Budapest, was moved to Brussels by the EU’s top foreign policy official, Josep Borrell, in response to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent peace efforts involving Ukraine, Russia and China.

At the meeting, Borrell advocated for lifting restrictions on Western weapons to Ukraine, arguing that these weapons must be fully utilized to target Russian bombing sites; otherwise, they are ineffective, according to POLITICO.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also pushed for the removal of all restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western arms.

Additionally, Hungary opposed Borrell’s proposal to sanction Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir for their rhetoric, which Borrell described as “incitement to war crimes.” (Related: Hungary hops off “NATO Train,” calls West’s escalation of war in Ukraine “hopeless.”)

Following the meeting, Szijjarto criticized Borrell’s proposals as “reckless,” reaffirming Hungary’s stance on peace. “We do not want more weapons in Ukraine, more deaths, or further escalation of the war. We seek common sense and peace,” he said.

Borrell, Ukraine want to strike Russia with Western weapons

Meanwhile, Borrell escalated pressure on Ukraine’s supporters to lift the restrictions on Western weapons used against Russian targets.

Addressing reporters ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Borrell emphasized that current curbs on using such weapons against Russia must be lifted according to international law.

“The weaponry that we are providing to Ukraine must be fully utilized, and the restrictions have to be lifted to allow Ukrainians to target the places where Russia is bombing them,” Borrell stated. “Otherwise, the weaponry is useless.”

On Aug. 29, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had destroyed 60 out of 74 Russian attack drones and two out of five missiles during an overnight operation.

However, 14 drones were unaccounted for and are believed to have fallen within Ukrainian territory. The head of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhiy Popko, noted that falling debris from the attacks had damaged windows and caused a fire in a residential building, which was later extinguished.

Ukraine is actively seeking additional air defenses and support from its Western allies to counter Russia’s intense drone attacks.

Specifically, Ukraine has requested 25 Patriot air defense systems to bolster its airspace protection. Ukraine is also advocating for the removal of restrictions on Western weapons to enable strikes on Russian military targets.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who spoke alongside Borrell, warned that if Russia emerges victorious, it will be due to the failure of Western allies to make bold decisions.

“The success of Russia depends on one thing: the preparedness of partners to make bold decisions. If decisions are taken, Ukraine will be successful on the ground. If not, do not blame Ukraine; blame yourselves,” Kuleba said.

Kuleba also emphasized that Ukraine seeks to strike only “legitimate military targets” within Russia. “If we are supplied a sufficient number of missiles and allowed to strike, we will significantly reduce Russia’s ability to inflict damage on our critical infrastructure and improve the situation for our forces on the ground,” he added.

In line with its strategy, Ukraine’s military confirmed that it had attacked an artillery depot and two oil storage facilities in Russia on Aug. 28. These assaults were aimed at disrupting key energy, transport and military infrastructure crucial to Moscow’s war effort.

Learn more about the situation in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com.

Watch this episode of the “Ron Paul Liberty Report” as co-hosts former Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Daniel McAdams discuss Hungary’s call for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

This video is from the channel What Is Happening on Brighteon.com.