“Pope Francis was a man of peace,” Prime Minister Orbán said, remembering the late pontiff. “In our minds, that means he was a gentle man, but there was another side to his character: He was a resolutely brave man because standing for peace means enduring daily harassment.” The prime minister emphasized that in recent years, only Hungary and the Vatican under Pope Francis consistently advocated for peace.
“His support gave supernatural weight to truth and peace,” PM Orbán said, highlighting the importance of this shared stance in a time of widespread militarism.
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Orbán stated that “it would be good to put an end to the war psychosis in Europe.” He noted that without U.S. support, Ukraine has no chance of maintaining its current positions, and although most EU leaders, unlike Hungary and Slovakia, are still committed to escalating the conflict, they will soon realize the futility of their efforts and join those of us pursuing peace.
“It’s only a matter of time,” he said.
On the issue of Ukraine’s EU accession, the prime minister stressed that this is one of the most pressing debates. “Whether or not Ukraine becomes a member of the EU depends on us Hungarians as well,” he said. The government opposes accession, arguing it would gravely damage Hungary’s economy. “If Ukraine were admitted and we benefitted from it, we would happily say yes. But Hungary would not benefit,” he stated plainly.
PM Orbán warned that Ukrainian membership would “bring down wages in Hungary, full employment could vanish, and the entire agricultural sector would undergo a massive contraction.” The result, he said, would be catastrophic: “Hundreds of thousands of families would be put in a very difficult situation.”
Further highlighting the financial implications, the prime minister noted: “Ukraine is such a large country that all the EU funds would go there. Hungary would become a net contributor, and our payments would be sent to Ukraine.” He argued that it is better to stop the process now than to risk a point of no return.
Addressing opposition MEP Kinga Kollár (of Hungary’s opposition Tisza Party), he said: “So, we’ve learned a new name—someone who shamelessly told the Hungarian people that she works every day in Brussels to ensure they don’t get the funds they deserve.” He condemned the opposition’s actions, stating, “While we get up every morning to work for our country’s success, a few dozen people in Brussels are working to make sure that Hungarians don’t succeed.”
Referring to withheld EU funds, PM Orbán said: “This money will come, and we will bring it home while preserving our country’s independence.” He also criticized Brussels for tying the funds to demands surrounding migration and child protection, calling such conditions unacceptable.
Prime Minister Orbán also pointed to the political dynamics at play in the EU: “Manfred Weber is the one calling the shots in European politics,” he said, adding that the European People’s Party is trying to install Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party into power in Hungary.
“If they succeed, there will no longer be a migrant-free Hungary, no more child protection, and no more pro-peace Hungary. Hungary, as an independent state, would cease to exist for a long time—we would become a colony again.”