Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged European leaders to initiate immediate high-level talks with Russia, warning that “Europe has fallen asleep” while the war in Ukraine continues. Speaking on Kossuth Radio Friday morning, he said peace cannot depend solely on external actors. “The Trump–Putin meeting is good news, but Europe must act as well,” he stated, calling on France and Germany to lead efforts to end the conflict.
The prime minister linked the war’s impact to broader strategic decisions, including Hungary’s demographic and economic resilience. He introduced the Otthon Start housing loan program, which offers fixed 3 percent interest rates and aims to strengthen families rather than relying on migration. “In the West, migration is their answer. Ours is family support,” he said, warning that migration brings social risks and erodes cultural cohesion. “We want our own future, not dependency in rentals.”
The program, launching in September, includes tax-free maternity and childcare benefits worth up to HUF 78,000 monthly and housing loans with potential savings of HUF 150,000 per month. “There is no exchange rate or interest rate risk—it’s all in forints,” he said. Addressing claims that the scheme would inflate prices, Prime Minister Orbán dismissed critics for misrepresenting the program. “They haven’t read the decree. There’s a cap. This is for people without property,” he emphasized.
He also alleged that external political forces are targeting Hungary and Donald Trump with disinformation campaigns. “They want a government here that Brussels prefers—not one the Hungarian people chose,” he warned.
Concluding, Prime Minister Orbán stressed the urgency of Hungary’s economic plans despite the ongoing conflict. “We cannot wait for peace to arrive. We must act now.”