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Neutral Countries Should Mediate between Russia and Ukraine, Advises Jeffrey Sachs

Mariann Őry 2023.02.08.
Jeffrey Sachs Hungary
Viktor Orbán met Jeffrey Sachs in Budapest last December.

Major neutral countries can bring about peace between Russia and Ukraine, but Hungary can also play a role, says Jeffrey Sachs.

According to world-renowned American economist Jeffrey Sachs, it is neutral countries that should mediate between Russia and Ukraine in order to reach a peace deal. “Neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to achieve a decisive military victory in their ongoing war: both sides have considerable room for deadly escalation,” he warns in an op-ed in The Economist.

“Neutral nations including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa have repeatedly called for a negotiated end to the conflict. They could help to enforce any agreement that is reached,” he noted, pointing out that “these countries are neither Russia-haters nor Ukraine-haters.” Sachs stressed that “the peacemaking role of major neutral countries could be decisive.”

“In addition to the countries mentioned above, other credible co-guarantors include Turkey (which has skillfully mediated Russia-Ukraine talks); Austria, which is proud of its enduring neutrality; and Hungary, which holds this year’s presidency of the UN General Assembly and has repeatedly called for negotiations to end the war,” he added. “The UN Security Council and the co-guarantors would impose UN-agreed trade and financial measures against any party that breaches the peace agreement,” he explained.

According to Hungarian news site Mandiner, Hungary in a mediator role is unlikely, due to its tense relations with Ukraine, but the country could bring together the above-mentioned major countries who could indeed broker a peace deal. Last spring, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán suggested that Budapest could host peace talks.

Foreign Minister Believes That Hungarians Have Already Paid a High Price for the War
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The rhetoric of war is very loud, while the rhetoric of peace is barely heard," Péter Szijjártó warned at the UN Security Council.Continue reading

Featured photo via Facebook/Orbán Balázs


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