Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has taken a sharp stance against the European Union’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war, accusing EU leaders of indulging in “fantasies” about defeating Russia while ignoring reality. Speaking in Vienna alongside former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at an event hosted by the Swiss newspaper Die Weltwoche, Orban argued that most EU politicians misunderstand Russia and project Western values and strategies onto Moscow.
Orban, a long-standing critic of EU policy on Ukraine, highlighted what he sees as a fundamental ideological difference between Russia and the West. According to Orban, while Western countries prioritize individual freedoms and economic prosperity, Russia’s main focus remains on preserving its multi-ethnic population and safeguarding its territorial integrity. He characterized this as a misinterpreted “intellectual problem” among Western leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom he criticized for promoting what he called unrealistic expectations of a military victory over Russia.
Both Orban and Schroeder agreed that Russia cannot be defeated on the battlefield and advocated for an immediate ceasefire, contending that time works against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “This war is lost for Ukraine, which is increasingly in ruins!” Orban stated, emphasizing the need for the EU to face the harsh realities of the ongoing conflict.
Orban also spoke about his recent diplomatic efforts, citing his “peace mission” to Kiev, Moscow, Beijing, and Mar-a-Lago as part of Hungary’s EU Council presidency. He explained that his goal was to push for a ceasefire and bring an end to the bloodshed rather than gain political favor from EU bureaucrats.
The Hungarian prime minister further alleged that EU leadership, particularly Von der Leyen and another prominent German official, have sought to undermine him and install a government in Hungary that would follow Brussels’ orders. He mentioned past statements by EU officials as evidence of this agenda, suggesting that similar tactics were used against the government in Poland last year.
Hungary, once a lone dissenter in the EU’s support for Ukraine, has gained an ally in Slovakia following the election of Robert Fico, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukrainian activist earlier this year.
