Orban's stark warning: West teeters on deploying troops to Ukraine

The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, known for his pro-Russian stance, cautioned that "The West is nearing the point of deploying troops to Ukraine," a move he believes could "drag Europe to the bottom". "Today in Brussels, there is a majority in favor of war, the mood in Europe is combative, the logic of war dominates in politics, I see preparations for war," he articulated.

"Today in Brussels, there is a majority in favour of war, the mood in Europe is combative, the logic of war dominates in politics, I see preparations for war everywhere," Orban remarked. He highlighted that the NATO Secretary General expressed intentions to establish a NATO mission in Ukraine and pointed out that European leaders are increasingly getting involved in the conflict. Orban's comments, which align with his sympathies towards Putin, were reported by the index.hu portal.

Orban observed that European leaders "perceive the war as their own and conduct it as such". He detailed the escalation of support for Ukraine, from initial helmet provisions to sanctions that avoided the energy sector, followed by the shipment of weapons ranging from small arms to tanks and planes, alongside financial aid surpassing tens of billions.

Despite the significant assistance provided to Ukraine, Orban believes "things are actually getting worse". "We are a step away from the West sending troops to Ukraine," he declared, warning of a tumultuous conflict that could entangle Europe. According to Orban, Brussels is "playing with fire and tempting God,"

On Friday, Orban kick-started the Fidesz-KDNP coalition's campaign leading up to the EP elections, pinning high hopes on securing a stronger representation of factions skeptical of supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion and critical of immigration policies.

Following a summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron stated the importance of defeating Russia to ensure Europe's security. He remarked, "Sending Western ground troops to Ukraine in the future should not be excluded," though he acknowledged the lack of consensus.

Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, Orban has echoed Kremlin narratives. He was among the early politicians to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his electoral "victory," signaling Hungary's readiness to collaborate with Russia and preference for peace. Under Putin's influence, Orban resisted initiating EU accession talks with Ukraine.

This resistance led German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to suggest Orban "step outside for a coffee," allowing Hungary to abstain from voting. Politico reported, "Orbán left the room, paving the way for the EU’s historic decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine".