Headline: Hungary‘s Orbán: ‘We’re at the Threshold of Peace’ as Ukraine War Nears End
Victor Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister, expressed optimism about the potential end of the war in Ukraine in an interview with the country’s public broadcaster M1 on Sunday,December 22. "We’re coming out of the war, we’re at the distance of an outstretched arm from peace," Orbán declared from his residence in Budapest.
Reflecting on the past three years marked by the conflict on Hungary’s doorstep, Orbán acknowledged the devastating impact: "A war is going on next to us, where hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people die every day, and the country is devastated, bombed, and loses a significant portion of its resources." With rising prices and a collapsing energy market, Orbán emphasized, "You can’t avoid the consequences of war."
Orbán credited his government’s "peacemaking mission" for bringing Europe to a point where "everyone is talking about peace." He noted that when Hungary assumed the EU presidency, discussing peace was taboo, but his government had made it an acceptable topic.
As Donald Trump prepares to take office as the new U.S. president on January 20, Orbán sees a "new world order" on the horizon. However, he suggests a Christmas truce as a realistic initial goal. "I think I’ve managed to make the Russian president think seriously about this," Orbán said, though he noted Ukrainian resistance.
Orbán warned that if Europe involves itself in the conflict, it risks further losses. He presented two "realities": one where Russia advances, and Europe loses; another where a "decisive figure" in the U.S., Trump, transforms the West. Orbán believes that changing the EU from within is essential, with his "Patriots" faction aiming to gain a majority and restructure Brussels.
In the context of the Ukraine war, Orbán suggested that a peace agreement was within reach in April 2022 but was thwarted by Western intervention. He also stressed that there’s no need for mediation between the U.S. and the EU, only serious, large-scale debates.
Orbán’s government maintains complex relations with the European Commission, sometimes aligning and sometimes differing, particularly on immigration and gender issues. Orbán sees Hungary as the opposition to Brussels and seeks to transform the EU in favor of national states.
Seeking to diversify Hungary’s economy beyond its Western market focus, Orbán aims to develop relationships with countries like the U.S., Russia, and China. He believes that Hungary shouldn’t weaken alongside Western markets but instead should seek opportunities elsewhere.
Regarding the heated public discourse in Europe, Orbán views it as a symbols
