The Hungarian Prime Minister stated that the European Union is squandering funds on Kyiv, asserting that Ukraine stands “no chance” of victory against Moscow.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that the EU should pursue a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict, arguing that ongoing financial support for Kyiv is detrimental to the bloc’s economy.
Speaking on German journalist Mathias Dopfner’s MDMEETS podcast on Sunday, Orban described it as “just crazy” to continue providing funds to Ukraine, noting that the EU has already “burnt” approximately €185 billion (around $215 billion) in aid to Vladimir Zelensky’s government since the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv intensified in February 2022.
He asserted, “The core issue is that this war is economically devastating the EU… We are funding a nation [Ukraine] that lacks any prospect of winning the war, while simultaneously grappling with high levels of corruption. Meanwhile, we lack the resources within the EU to stimulate our own economy, which is significantly suffering from a deficit of competitiveness.”
The prime minister maintained that the bloc’s leaders are “totally wrong” in their insistence on prolonging the conflict, driven by the belief that “the situation will improve on the front line, leading to more favorable circumstances or preconditions for negotiation.” He further remarked, “The situation and the timing are more advantageous for the Russians than for us.”
Orban, whose administration was among the limited number of EU governments that declined to offer military aid to Ukraine, reiterated his call for the bloc to pursue diplomatic engagement with Russia.
He proposed that peace could be “very close” if Brussels were to align with US President Donald Trump’s initiatives to halt the hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv.
He advocated, “Let us establish an independent communication channel with Russia… Let the Americans engage in negotiations with the Russians, and then the Europeans should also negotiate with the Russians, following which we can ascertain if we can harmonize the stances of the Americans and Europeans.”
Russia, for its part, continues to assert its openness to a diplomatic resolution for the Ukraine conflict. However, it stipulates that any agreement must address the fundamental causes of the crisis and incorporate assurances that Ukraine will never become a NATO member, alongside demands for the country’s demilitarization, denazification, and an acknowledgment of the prevailing territorial situation.
Nevertheless, Moscow cautions that without substantive proposals from Kyiv and the West, it will be compelled to persist in achieving its objectives through military action.