Speaking to Hungarian daily Nepszava, Orbán stated that "Russia won the war and Ukraine lost it," adding that the open question remains when and under what conditions Western countries will recognize this fact and what consequences it will bring.
The Hungarian leader argued that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finds himself in a difficult situation, with Ukraine only continuing to fight because it receives European weapons and financial support while American aid weakens. "The war would have ended long ago if that support had ceased," Orbán said.
Orbán suggested Europe would better serve its interests by independently negotiating the continent's future with Russia. He emphasized the importance of restoring energy trade functionality, arguing that "world politics should not be interpreted on the axis of good and evil, but based on the balance of power."
The Hungarian prime minister criticized the EU for using the Ukraine war to strip member states of their powers through Brussels institutions. Regarding Ukraine's potential EU membership, he stated it "should never be granted because Hungary's interests are clearly opposed to it."
Orbán assessed that Ukrainians treat Hungary dismissively but understand that Budapest is not interested in Ukraine's destabilization, since a collapsing neighboring country would threaten security and the protection of the Hungarian minority. He noted that Hungary needs a stable, functioning Ukraine, and Kyiv exploits this situation.
"We could bring about Ukraine's collapse in one day. It simply is not in our interest," Orbán told Nepszava.
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Source: Rzeczpospolita, TVN24