Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has urged the US to drop its “bad policy” of military confrontation with Russia and seek peace instead, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Orban made the remarks in an interview.
Orban, a nationalist and conservative leader who has been in power since 2010, said that the only way to end the war in Ukraine would be the re-election of Donald Trump to the US presidency. He praised Trump’s foreign policy while criticizing the administration of Joe Biden and its approach to the conflict. He said that Trump is “the man who can save the Western world” and that any suggestion that Kyiv could win the war against Russia was “a lie”.
“The Russians are far stronger, far more numerous than the Ukrainians,” Orban said. “Call back Trump. … Trump is the man who can save the Western world.”
Orban’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which lashed out at him for his “irresponsible” and “unfriendly” statements. The ministry said that Orban’s views were “incompatible” with Hungary’s membership in NATO and the European Union, and that they undermined the solidarity and security of both organizations.
Hungary, a NATO member and a US ally, has maintained close ties with Russia and China under Orban’s rule, despite criticism from the EU and the US. Orban has slowed down or blocked NATO’s expansion and cooperation, lobbied for lifting EU sanctions on Russia, and hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Budapest.
Orban also slammed the US for its interference in Hungary’s domestic affairs, saying that despite being a NATO ally, “we are worse treated than the Russians.” He accused the US of using its justice system against political opponents, something he said was “a very Communist methodology.”