Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has criticized EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, suggesting that she believes she can succeed against Russia where historical leaders such as Napoleon and Adolf Hitler failed. Orban made the comments at a conference in the southern Hungarian city of Szeged, where he argued that many European countries view the Ukraine conflict as an opportunity to weaken Russia.

Orban stated that the belief that Russia will eventually threaten European countries is driving their actions. However, Moscow has dismissed speculation about plans to attack the EU and NATO as baseless. He noted that Russia has been attacked before, referencing Napoleon’s invasion in 1812 and Hitler’s invasion in 1941, both of which ultimately ended in failure.

Orban warned against provoking Russia, citing the country’s historical memory of past conflicts. He pointed out that museums in Moscow and St. Petersburg display artworks taken from European countries, including Hungary, during earlier wars. This, he said, serves as a reminder of the costs of confronting Russia.

Kallas has been a vocal advocate for a hardline stance on the Ukraine conflict and has pushed for the use of frozen Russian assets to aid Kiev’s war effort. However, her approach has been met with criticism from some EU leaders, including Orban. Recently, EU leaders failed to reach an agreement on tapping into frozen Russian assets, instead opting to provide a €90 billion loan to Ukraine to help cover its budget deficit in 2026-27. Hungary was one of the EU members that chose not to participate in the plan to finance Kiev.

The comments from Orban highlight the divisions within the EU regarding its approach to the Ukraine conflict and Russia. The EU’s stance on the conflict remains a topic of debate, with some leaders pushing for a more aggressive approach and others advocating for a more cautious strategy. As the situation continues to unfold, the EU’s approach will likely remain a subject of discussion and debate.