An overwhelming majority of Hungarians, 91%, support an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks, the Századvég Institute said on Friday. Some 7% said the war should continue until Russian President Vladimir Putin is defeated, the pollster said in a statement.
Fully 62% were of the view that neither parties had a chance of winning the war, Századvég said. Fully 70% of respondents said the sanctions imposed on Russia harmed the European Union and Hungary. The results are in line with the policies of the Hungarian government, which has been pursuing a pro-peace policy, urging a ceasefire rather than measures likely to escalate the conflict, Századvég said.
Századvég gauged public approach to the war and EU and US policies after EU and US politicians, including EU Vice-President Vera Jourová, MEP Guy Verhofstadt and David Pressman, the US Ambassador to Hungary, criticised Hungary’s policies with a view to putting pressure on the government to change its approach, Századvég said. Ukrainian deputy foreign minister Yevhen Perebyinis said Hungary was “blocking sanctions against Russia”.