Without cooperation with Turkey, Hungary’s energy security would not be guaranteed and the country would not have achieved several of its economic records last year, the foreign ministry cited Péter Szijjártó as saying at a joint press conference with Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank. Central and eastern Europe are facing enormous difficulties due to the war in Ukraine and the related sanctions, Szijjártó said. “The region is seeing uncertainty, brutal price increases and supply issues both in the economy and energy supply,” the minister said. “The cooperation between Turkey and Hungary has been and will continue to be … a great help in overcoming these challenges.” As a neighbour of Ukraine, Hungary’s interest lies in peace being achieved there as soon as possible, Szijjártó said. “Peace is needed, and peace requires talks, which requires mediators,” Szijjártó said, expressing Hungary’s appreciation of Turkey’s successful mediation in the resumption of grain exports.