Speaking in Brussels ahead of the EU summit, PM Orbán urged the EU to pursue a ceasefire and peace negotiations, stating, "The EU's current war strategy is not working; we are losing this war." He emphasized that a shift in strategy is urgently needed, noting that "the EU went into this war with poor planning, poor execution, and poor calculations."
Listing the day’s agenda for the upcoming EU summit, PM Orbán identified three major issues, with the Ukraine war being the most critical. He pointed out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to present his Victory Plan, which PM Orbán criticized as overly aggressive.
"What Zelensky said yesterday in the Ukrainian parliament is more than frightening," he remarked. The prime minister also expressed frustration that, despite his consistent calls for a change in the EU's strategy, it remains the same. "I have been alone in urging that the EU shift its strategy because, as it stands, we are losing this war," he stressed.
PM Orbán also directly criticized the European Commission, stating that its president, Ursula von der Leyen, bears responsibility for leading the EU into what he called a poorly thought-out conflict. "This strategy is simply not working," PM Orbán asserted. He pointed to the frontlines, where it is "completely obvious we are on the losing side," reiterating his call for a drastic change: "I am not talking about more war, more dangerous weapons, or long-range missiles, but about switching from a war strategy to a peace strategy. Ceasefire, peace negotiations."
Highlighting his concerns over the direction of the conflict, PM Orbán underscored that Zelensky's vision would escalate the war rather than bring it to an end. He called for urgent action from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, urging them to "start negotiations with the Russians as soon as possible on behalf of the entire European Union to find a way out of this situation."
In addition to addressing the war, the prime minister highlighted two other critical issues on the EU summit’s agenda: migration and economic policies. He referred to the "migration battle" as equally important, criticizing the EU’s approach to penalizing Hungary for protecting its borders.
"It is unacceptable that Hungary is punished for defending the EU's borders," PM Orbán said, noting that several EU countries are now calling for changes in migration rules and acknowledging the growing crisis.
PM Orbán also spoke of the "afternoon battle" that awaits during the summit, where he expects to push back against EU economic measures that would, in his words, "devastate Hungarian families." He listed tax increases, the elimination of utility cost reductions, pension system reforms, and the removal of the 13th-month pension as key threats.
"I must reject these proposals and protect the most important elements of our current economic policies that safeguard families," the prime minister emphasized.