BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥 Hungary's foreign minister said a meeting of his counterparts from NATO member countries in Brussels on Wednesday had produced 鈥渘o consensus鈥 on the prospect of inviting Ukraine to join the transatlantic military alliance, a step Kyiv sees as an essential condition for bringing an end to Russia's war.
P茅ter Szijj谩rt贸, a fervent critic of Ukraine with to Russian President Vladimir Putin's government, criticized some Western countries that have increased military support to Kyiv following Donald Trump's election to the White House, claiming such moves risked escalating the conflict.
He warned that bringing Ukraine into NATO鈥檚 ranks 鈥渨ould be tantamount to initiating World War III.鈥
鈥淲e believe that Ukraine would not be able to add to European security in its present situation, but rather, as a country at war, inviting Ukraine into NATO we would risk ... the threat of war, namely, the threat of a NATO-Russian war," Szijj谩rt贸 told a news conference.
The meeting of NATO foreign ministers came as Russia in Ukraine while Kyiv's Western supporters before Trump takes office in January.
Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies.
Leaders of the 32 NATO member countries have to membership. But on Tuesday sidestepped questions about Ukraine鈥檚 possible membership in the alliance, saying that the priority now must be to strengthen the country鈥檚 hand in any future peace talks with Russia by sending it more weapons.
Consensus among all NATO countries is required for admitting new members.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently suggested that to territory now under Kyiv鈥檚 control could end 鈥渢he hot stage鈥 of .
But Szijj谩rt贸 on Wednesday voiced skepticism over increased Western support being able to influence the conflict in Ukraine's favor.
鈥淚n spite of the arms shipments pouring there, Ukraine鈥檚 situation on the battlefield gets worse every day,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f someone talks about the improvement of the situation of the Ukrainians as an easily achievable goal on the battlefield, they do nothing but deceive themselves and the Ukrainians as well.鈥
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