There are three huge world maps hanging in his office. American, Chinese and European. Each of them has its own continent in the center. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says it reminds him of that world politics is always a matter of perspective. And that you should take into account the perspective of your partners and opponents. What is striking is that there is no map of the world from the Russian perspective.
In Europe, Orban, who has good contacts with both Washington and Moscow, is seen by many as a spokesman for Russia. Also in the MD MEETS podcast of the CEO of Axel Springer, Mathias Dopfner, the head of the Hungarian government sharply criticizes the European Union.
— They say it publicly: we must continue the war to continue supporting Ukraine. The situation on the front will improve and we will have better conditions for negotiations. This is not true, completely false. Time is working more in favor of the Russians than in our favor – says Orban.
He denies accusations that he helps Vladimir Putin achieve victory. — I don't care if Putin wins or loses or whatever. I am interested in the future of European nations, including Hungarians, he adds.
At the same time, Orban warns against attempts to defeat Russia militarily in Ukraine and repeats an argument also known from Russian propaganda. — If Russia used nuclear weapons against Europe, it would mean the destruction not only of Europe but also of Russia itself, because the reaction would be obvious. Nobody wants that. My point is that no one would want to get involved in the escalation of a nuclear conflict, says the Hungarian Prime Minister. – But if a nuclear power loses a conventional war, (…) the risk of using nuclear weapons immediately becomes real. Therefore, I believe that the conflict should not be escalated. You should not show your strength at the front. (…) We must show our strength at the negotiating table, not on the front.
“The war that is killing the EU”
Although Orban sees the advances of the Russian army in Ukraine, does not believe in Russia's attack on the West. — With all due respect, I find it absurd to claim that Russia will attack the EU or NATO simply because they are not strong enough. We are much stronger than them. The European Union has over 400 million inhabitants, Russia has approximately 140 million. (…) If we add up the military potential of the 27 EU countries, we are much stronger than Russia. The Russians have not been able to completely occupy Ukraine for over three years. How can we claim in Europe that we are weaker than Russia? – says.
In his opinion, the ongoing war is “killing the European Union economically and financially.” — What we are doing, not to mention the geopolitics and human dimensions, is simply madness. We have already burned EUR 185 billion and we will continue to burn it. (…) So we are financing a country that has no chance of winning the war. At the same time, however, there is a high level of corruption and we do not have the money for the European Union to give a new impetus to our economy, which suffers greatly from a lack of competitiveness. What we are doing is irrational, says Orban.
The European issue is an important part of his strategy. Orban thinks that The EU is a 'threat' to his country. – They are blackmailing us. They are trying to strangle us economically and financially, he says. — We are proud Hungarians and we would like to remain Hungarians also in the future, he adds, mentioning his disappointment with the bloc. — The European Union was a peace project that turned into a war project, says Orban. — Europe in its current form has failed in the integration process. The end of the European Union will not come on one dramatic day. This is an ongoing process.
Mathias Dopfner and Viktor OrbanDaniel Biskup / BILD
Hungarian economy
Viktor Orban sees US President Donald Trump as a peacemaker and wants to help him reach an agreement in Ukraine. Trump is “undoubtedly a man of peace” and Hungary can be “a good tool in the hands of those who want to make peace.” Orban claims he is “trying to help the president of the United States.” — If only [Trump] was in office when the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out, the war would have ended and it would not have even broken out, says the Hungarian leader.
The Prime Minister also referred to the meeting with the US leader and the exemption of Hungary from sanctions for continued purchases of Russian oil and gas for a period of one year. — [Trump] he's a good man. It is important to know that we are all politicians, but some of us are not such good people. (…) I thought, and I was right, that if I could explain to him that he was imposing such sanctions on Hungary and there were no exceptions, he would kill us. It will kill 10 million Hungarians, millions of households and the economybecause prices in Hungary will immediately triple. No one will survive economically and the situation will be very difficult. So please understand that I have no alternative because we are landlocked and Hungary is a landlocked country. This is the only way we can supply the country. He understood that and said, “OK, I'm ready to help,” Orban says.
The mentioned economic situation will also be an important point elections in 2026 Orban's rival, Peter Magyar, is gaining popularity, accusing the incumbent prime minister of corruption, controlling the media, and lack of economic growth and financial success.
— I'm not the only one record holder in terms of the length of time he served as prime ministerbut also the record holder in terms of the length of time he served as opposition leader. I have experience, I spent 16 years in politics as an opposition leader. I have practice. Don't be afraid. I know how to continue, says Orban. He adds that the most important point of the new campaign will be sovereignty.
