Orban urges EU to rethink Russia ties as sanctions bite
In a Friday interview, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized the need to renew the EU's relationship with Russia. He called on the European Union to stop the policy of intensifying sanctions. He suggested that a new U.S. president, Donald Trump, could influence this change in trend.
Prime Minister Orban stated that the European Union should focus on rebuilding relations with Russia, thereby moving away from the policy of increasing sanctions. He argued that Brussels needs to adapt to the new era, an era in which more constructive ties with Moscow can be established.
Orban calls on the EU to change policy towards Russia
"A new era is beginning in Brussels, and we need to adapt to it. We will have to build relationships with the Russians without sanctions," Orban stated. He was critical of the current EU policy and stressed that "Brussels needs a wake-up call, but the EU leadership is still in the drinking phase, and then comes the hangover."
He proudly mentioned that he and his government successfully chaired the EU Council in 2024, a tenure appreciated even by political opponents. He added that, even before the Hungarian presidency, only Budapest in Europe, with the exception of the Vatican, was advocating for peace in Ukraine.
"Hungarian or Polish farmers may have to shut down"
Orban believes that his government's economic plans "will only have an effect if the war does not escalate and if the policy of sanctions is extinguished." He warned that the EU's policy towards Ukraine poses a serious threat to the European economy. "If the situation continues to develop as it has so far, Hungarian or Polish farmers may also have to shut down their operations," added Viktor Orban.
He further emphasized, "Without Western money, there is no Ukraine. Ukrainian agriculture collides with European agriculture, and Ukraine's economy does not fit into the European system," stated the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Orban declared that the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump in the U.S. might aid efforts to end the war in Ukraine. He expressed the opinion that the West often views peace efforts in Ukraine as an attempt to betray the interests of the Union, but this perspective needs to change.
