Hungary's foreign minister says it has been invited to join Trump's Gaza board

(19 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prague - 19 January 2026
1. Ministers arriving for news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Petr Macinka, Czech Foreign Minister:
"So the debate actually concerned energy, common positions on EU emission allowances, ETS 2 (European Union Emissions Trading System), positions on how to deal with mass migration, and so on."
3. Ministers shaking hands
4. SOUNDBITE (Hungarian) Péter Szijjártó, Hungarian Foreign Minister:
"The Czech and Hungarian governments jointly oppose the resettlement of migrants. We also jointly reject war and support the American peace efforts. We will not allow others to drag us into war. And we also hope that Donald Trump's (peace) efforts will be successful. It is clear that Brussels has decided to go to war with Russia. We, Hungarians, have decided to stay out of this war, and we will not send Hungarian money or Hungarian weapons to Ukraine."
5. Ministers waiting for questions from journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (Hungarian) Péter Szijjártó, Hungarian Foreign Minister:
"We greatly appreciate Donald Trump's (peace) efforts in the Middle East as well. We believe that he is the only person who can bring hope for peace and tranquility to the Middle East, and Donald Trump's initiatives are the guarantee for this. Previously, the Abraham Accords could have provided such an opportunity. Now, Donald Trump's current efforts bring the hope that peace and stability could return to the Middle East. Hungary has been invited to participate in the Board of Peace. Yesterday we informed the US administration about our grateful acceptance of that invitation and we are ready to participate."
7. End of news conference, ministers leaving
STORYLINE:
Hungary's foreign minister confirmed Monday that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been invited by the United States to join President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza.

"Yesterday we informed the US administration about our grateful acceptance of that invitation and we are ready to participate," Péter Szijjártó told reporters.

The Board of Peace is new body of world leaders meant to oversee next steps in Gaza that shows ambitions for a broader mandate in global affairs.

The Hungarian foreign minister also said that he believes President Trump is "the only person who can bring hope for peace and tranquility to the Middle East."

Szijjártó was speaking at a press conference alongside his Czech counterpart Petr Macinka in Prague, after holding talks focused on energy policy, migration, and international conflicts, including Ukraine and the Middle East.

On Ukraine, Szijjártó stressed that "it is clear that Brussels has decided to go to war with Russia. We, Hungarians, have decided to stay out of this war, and we will not send Hungarian money or Hungarian weapons to Ukraine."

Prime Minister Orbán is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Europe.

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