Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary can stay out of the war in Ukraine only by preserving its sovereignty.

After talks with Equatorial Guinea counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Budapest on Monday, Minister Szijjártó said both countries rejected "Brussels and certain pro-war politicians constantly trying to hinder peace talks and peace efforts". Such attempts were "unacceptable" and contrary to the interests of Europeans and Africans alike, he added.

Those leaders "want the war to continue ... and they are fomenting war psychosis here in Europe; they even want to interfere in Ukraine to ensure that Europe is also dragged into the war... [Hungary] doesn't want to be dragged into the war. So we must maintain our sovereignty," Minister Szijjártó said.

Regarding the meeting, Minister Szijjártó said Hungary and Equatorial Guinea had more in common "than one would think at first". The latter is the country with the largest ratio of Catholic citizens in Africa, "and it is highly committed to peace and urges a peaceful resolution of armed conflicts, while also working to ensure the continent's stability, which is key to keeping Europe-bound migration in check".

Despite the distance, the three-year war in Ukraine has brought about "extraordinary difficulties" in Africa, especially when it came to inflation and food supplies, Minister Szijjártó said. This could lead to further waves of migration, posing a security threat to Europe, he added.

"Brokering peace in Ukraine as soon as possible is in the interest of Europeans and Africans alike, and so it is supporting [US] President Donald Trump's peace efforts in every possible way," he said.

Further, Minister Szijjártó said that as two Christian countries with Catholic majorities, "we take seriously and stand up for Christian values."

He noted that the basilica in Malabo is dedicated to St Elisabeth of Hungary. "So it is hardly surprising that a Hungarian company has reconstructed it, along with nearly twenty other churches in Equatorial Guinea."

The ministers agreed that Hungary will offer state stipends to ten students from Equatorial Guinea wishing to study in Hungary."We have also agreed on providing technological support for development in water management, a safe food industry and the environmentally friendly production of energy resources," he said.

Responding to a question, Minister Szijjártó lamented "an extraordinary drive" to facilitate Ukraine's speedy accession to the EU. "They clearly don't care at all that the countries of the Western Balkans have been waiting for [EU] membership for 14.5 years on average, and anyone with eyes can see that they are much better prepared than Ukraine."

"Those in Brussels know that there is only one hindrance [to that plan]: the opinion of Hungarians. Because the Hungarian government represents the opinion of Hungarians," he said.

Minister Szijjártó insisted that the European People's Party, "the most pro-Ukraine force in Brussels," wanted to ensure that Hungarians could not thwart their plans on Ukraine, by "producing results that seem to show that Hungarians supported Ukraine's accession to the European Union". That is why "the Hungarian member of the EPP, the Tisza party, has now launched a pro-Ukraine signature drive ahead of the referendum in which Hungarians will have an opportunity to give their opinion on Ukraine safely, fairly, and on an equal footing," he said.

Minister Szijjártó added that Hungary's government would represent the will of the voters expressed in the referendum.