Orban considers continued aid to Ukraine “madness” that is killing the EU. How the war can be solved in the vision of the Hungarian leader
Ukraine “has no chance” to win in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion, and under these conditions, the EU's financial support for this country is “simply crazy”, said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Politico reports.
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His comments come as hopes for a truce in the near future are fading and Europe is scrambling to shore up Kiev's finances ahead of next year's budget crisis.
Orbán made the comments in an interview with the CEO of German media group Axel Springer, which owns POLITICO. From the perspective of the Hungarian Prime Minister, the financial support given to Ukraine is “killing” the EU “from an economic and financial point of view”.
“We have already spent 185 billion euros and … our intention is to spend even more. So we are financing a country that has no chance of winning the war“, he emphasized.
Orbán has accused EU leaders of deliberately prolonging the conflict in Ukraine in the hope of gaining a favorable position in negotiations for a peace deal, but from his point of view support for Ukraine is a “wrong, totally wrong” position.
“They believe … that we must continue the war to further support Ukraine. The situation and the timing are more favorable to the Russians than to us. Do not continue; stop as soon as possible.”
What Europeans should do, in the vision of Viktor Orban
As for the peace talks, Orbán says he expects “an agreement between the Russians and the Americans on war and other issues, trade, world trade, energy and other issues.”
In the meantime, Europeans should “open an independent channel of communication with Russia.”
“Let the Americans negotiate with the Russians, and then the Europeans should also negotiate with the Russians and see if we can unify the position of the Americans and the Europeans.”
A “new security system”
Europe should approach the problem of Ukraine “depending on the European interest”, Orbán emphasized, adding that he “does not care” if Moscow wins or loses, but is “interested in the future of European citizens, including the future of Hungarians”, as well as “a new security system”.
A post-war security deal for Ukraine should include “a peace agreement that stabilizes the borders, regardless of whether they are internationally recognized or not” and “certainly some kind of demilitarized zone,” the Hungarian prime minister said.
Unless a “miracle” happens, Russia will continue to occupy the Ukrainian territory of Donetsk after the war. “This is the reality, whether you like it or not,” he stressed.
On the other hand, the possibility that Russia, encouraged by its success, will attack another European or NATO member country is not supported, Orban believes.
“I think it is ridiculous to say that the Russians will attack the European Union or NATO, simply because they are not strong enough. We are much stronger,” he said.
