Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has steadfastly refused to support a major European Union (EU) aid package for Ukraine, expressing sympathy for his neighbor but doing nothing more to help Ukraine repel Russian troops.
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 23, the Hungarian leader said Ukraine “has no chance of winning this war”, and the conflict can only be resolved diplomatically .
“Looking at the facts, the numbers, the context, the unwillingness of NATO to send troops, it is clear that there is no victory for the poor Ukrainians on the battlefield. That is my view,” Mr Orban said, presenting a bleak outlook that few European leaders publicly agreed with.
“The war can only stop if the Russians reach an agreement with the Americans. In Europe, we are not happy with that, but it is the only way out.”
Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted 15 months ago, Hungary – a member of the EU and NATO – has refused to cut ties with Moscow and has opposed NATO expansion. Like Turkey, Hungary has yet to ratify Sweden’s membership in the military alliance, and Prime Minister Orban has raised specific concerns about Ukraine’s NATO hopes.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Doha on the evening of May 21, 2023, for an official visit to Qatar. Photo: Gulf Times
A populist, the 59-year-old often heats up debates in Brussels whenever the 27 EU member states have to make unanimous decisions on tougher sanctions against Russia or more financial and military aid to Ukraine.
Last week, Mr Orban opposed the EU sending more military aid to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration blacklisted OTP Bank, Hungary's largest commercial bank.
At an event in Doha on May 23, Mr Orban said that if Ukraine needed more money, Kiev should respect Hungary and not punish Hungarian companies. He added that Budapest was “not part of the mainstream European approach”.
“Hungary is in a unique position because Ukraine is not far away. We have ethnic minorities living in Ukraine and they were part of the war. They were drafted, they were soldiers in the Ukrainian army and many of them died. So we are losing lives – Hungarian lives as well,” he said, referring to ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.
“Our hearts go out to the Ukrainian people. We understand how much has happened,” he said. “But I am speaking here as a politician and the solution is to save lives . ”
Minh Duc (According to Al Jazeera, Bloomberg)
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