"The European Union is divided into two groups regarding the war: There are the others, and then there is us. From the beginning, Hungary declared that it did not wish to participate in the war efforts," the prime minister remarked. While other EU nations are openly discussing fighting Russia, Hungary has consistently advocated for peace.
PM Orbán criticized the broader EU strategy, describing it as behaving like a warring party. He stressed that the conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield and that negotiations are necessary to bring an end to the war as soon as possible, allowing Europe to return to peaceful life. "Zelensky's victory plan cannot win, only lose," the prime minister stated, referring to the Ukrainian president's recently presented strategy to the European Council.
The prime minister questioned the clarity of previous Ukrainian military strategies, remarking, "Until now, what did they have? We thought they were already following a victory plan. Now it turns out that they were not." Hungary, PM Orbán emphasized, made it clear from the beginning that it would not participate in such a strategy.
On the sensitive issue of Ukraine's alleged nuclear ambitions, PM Orbán clarified that while he had not heard President Zelensky directly mention plans to develop nuclear weapons during their talks, his government is working to uncover the truth behind such claims. According to the prime minister, the situation on the ground favors Russia, and the advice for Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength is unrealistic given the toll the conflict is taking on the people fighting on the frontlines.
Prime Minister Orbán went on to criticize the European People's Party (EPP) and its leadership, including Manfred Weber, for being staunchly pro-war. In contrast, the prime minister advocated for diplomatic efforts, suggesting that it is time for the German chancellor and French president to engage in talks with Russia. Unfortunately, the EPP holds a different viewpoint, one that is detrimental to Hungary, according to PM Orbán.
The EPP’s dissatisfaction with Hungary’s current government was also highlighted, with the prime minister revealing that in a recent debate at the European Parliament, the party expressed a desire to replace the Hungarian government with one that would act as a "viceroy of Brussels." This, PM Orbán noted, was a clear effort by the EPP to install a government more aligned with Brussels' demands, particularly on controversial issues such as migration.
PM Orbán made it clear that Hungary’s response to EU policies on migration differs significantly from other member states. "What we do is what the European people want to see, and it is the opposite of what their governments are doing," the prime minister stated, highlighting Hungary’s successful handling of the migration crisis as a point of contrast.
The prime minister noted that Hungary remains a "thorn in the side" of the EU, exemplified by its energy policies. Hungarian citizens enjoy the lowest energy costs in the region, while larger economies like Germany’s are stagnating. PM Orbán suggested that the EU’s punitive measures against Hungary are a result of the country's refusal to conform to unsustainable policies.
Looking to Hungary’s role in global and regional diplomacy, PM Orbán noted the upcoming summit with Serbian and Slovak leaders focused on migration. Despite its relatively small size, Hungary’s influence is disproportionate, the prime minister explained, especially in terms of its geopolitical and economic strategies. This, according to PM Orbán, has enhanced Hungary’s standing on the world stage.
Prime Minister Orbán concluded with a call for a national consultation, asserting that the government’s "own path" in economic policy would only be pursued with the support of the Hungarian people. "If war breaks out, our plans will stay in the drawer because such economic policies are not suited for wartime," he added, emphasizing the importance of stability and public backing in these uncertain times.