BUDAPEST, Feb 14: Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has stated that if the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has persisted for nearly three years, comes to a conclusion, the administration of US President Donald Trump would revive Russia’s ties with Western economies and energy networks.
Speaking on state radio, Orbán noted that Trump’s leadership has fostered a significant shift in the Western nations’ approach to various matters, including Russia’s military actions. He believes that Trump’s recent efforts to negotiate a resolution to the conflict would lead to Moscow being reintegrated into the Western community.
“If the American president brokers peace and an agreement is reached, I suspect Russia will be reintroduced into the global economy, the European security framework, and even the European energy market,” noted Orbán, who enjoys close relationships with both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This would offer a substantial boost to the Hungarian economy. Peace presents a vast opportunity for us.”
On Wednesday, a phone conversation between Trump and Putin culminated in an agreement to initiate negotiations to conclude the war. This development unexpectedly disrupted a three-year US-led strategy aimed at isolating the Russian leader concerning Ukraine and has raised alarm in Kyiv and other European cities about the possibility of a settlement happening without their involvement.
Despite having been a vocal critic of Western support for Ukraine’s defense, Orbán commended Trump for his interactions with Putin, asserting that the US president “seeks peace.”
“The United States is driving a transformation that redefines the entire value system, arguments, and mindset of the Western world,” he stated. “This shift is proceeding at a pace quicker than many anticipated. We refer to this phenomenon as the Trump tornado.”
Unlike most European nations, Hungary has remained heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orbán has consistently opposed EU sanctions aimed at Russia’s energy sector.
On Friday, he warned that the EU might “disintegrate” if energy prices across the continent do not decline.
“I became convinced back in 2010 and 2011 that the European Union was doomed,” he remarked. “Unless the Germans and the French devise a solution that places the European Union on a new path, its existence is jeopardized. There is no need to formally exit; it will collapse on its own if this trend continues.” (AP)
