The Hungarian government will give its full support to any sanctions approved by the European Union against Russia in connection with the crisis in Ukraine – said Foreign Minister János Martonyi on 30 March 2014 on CNN.

Fareed Zakaria: Foreign Minister Martonyi, if the stakes are as high as Carl Bildt says, why is it that Hungary, you, your prime minister, have repeatedly voiced your concern or easing, even opposition to sanctions. I understand Hungary trades a lot with Russia, but so does Poland. If the principle is so important, should your narrow self-interest override that principle?

János Martonyi: No, I will disagree with what you were just referring to because in fact the Hungarian prime minister, indeed the Hungarian government fully supported all the sanctions which have been decided until now by the European Union.

So there was a complete unity, also in the council of the foreign ministers as well as in the European Council of the heads of states and governments.

What you probably refer to is what – not just the Hungarian prime minister, but many other people alluded to, and this is that possibly the third stage of the wider economic sanctions should be avoided, how it could be avoided.

First and foremost, I believe that we should finish with this uncertainty, this unpredictability, which would mean that Russia should give a fair guarantee that Russian troops will not cross the border of Ukraine. So they will not deteriorate further the conflict, which is already serious enough.

So of course the exposure to economic conflicts or economic war of various EU member states is different. Of course there are countries which would suffer more than others. And that's why what we underlined and we still underline is that in this case a burden sharing and the solidarity will have to apply among the member states, but otherwise I would not agree at all with the allegation that the Hungarian government conducts a different policy in this regard either from the other central European nations like for instance (inaudible) four countries or indeed from the united position of the European Union.

Fareed Zakaria: Thank you, foreign minister. Thank you, foreign minister Carl Bildt, pleasure to have both of you on.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)