According to Prime Minister Orbán, the core reality is simple: Ukraine cannot win the war on the battlefield. He notes that the country has already lost roughly a fifth of its territory and continues to face immense human and material losses. The prime minister argues that asking European taxpayers to indefinitely finance an unwinnable war is neither realistic nor responsible. The obligation of the European Union, he states, is not to sustain a conflict with no path to victory, but to advocate for solutions that prevent further suffering.
Central to his proposal is an immediate and unconditional shift towards peace initiatives. PM Orbán urges Europe to support emerging diplomatic efforts, including those backed by President Trump, and to launch its own direct negotiations with Russia. Only a ceasefire and subsequent peace agreement, he writes, can halt the continued devastation that now defines the conflict.
The prime minister also warns that the European Union must prepare for the post-war settlement. Rather than channeling its financial resources into strengthening the Ukrainian military, he argues that Europe should focus on reinforcing its own strategic capabilities. Relying on the uncertain future of Ukraine’s armed forces, he contends, is not a viable security strategy for the continent. European security, in his view, must be built on the strength of EU member states themselves.
Prime Minister Orbán further makes it clear that Hungary cannot consent to any new financial assistance for Ukraine. He emphasizes that Budapest will not participate in operations that deepen the EU’s financial exposure without offering a realistic path toward resolving the conflict. He also voices concern about the lack of oversight for previously allocated funds, pointing to what he describes as a growing “crisis of trust” linked to Ukrainian corruption.
The letter concludes with a firm but measured warning: persisting with current policies, he writes, risks dragging the entire European Union into a severe crisis. Recognizing mistakes now, he suggests, is far better than continuing down a path that leads only to greater danger. With this message, the prime minister places responsibility squarely on Europe’s leaders to make the difficult but necessary choice for peace.