EU 'centimeters away' from war with Russia: Orban
3 Min Read
Despite the concerning developments, the situation has not reached a point of no return, the Hungarian premier said.
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during a press conference with his Sweden's counterpart Ulf Kristersson at the Carmelite Monastery in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Feb 23, 2024. (AP)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday warned that the West is on the brink of a potential clash with Russia and there is a need for pro-peace leadership to prevent such a scenario.
Speaking in an interview with TV2 just before the European Parliament elections, Orban mentioned discussions and debates surrounding the possibility of sending more weapons and troops to Ukraine, suggesting that this trajectory could lead to war.
He pointed out that initially when the conflict began in 2022, most EU countries, including Germany, committed to providing only non-lethal aid to Kiev. But there has been a notable shift, with Western powers subsequently supplying a variety of weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine.
"At the rate this is going, it is not an exaggeration to say that we are centimeters away from the final stop when Western European or American soldiers appear in the territory of Ukraine, we are within inches of a direct collision [with Russia] at this moment," he said, adding that most leaders currently in power in the West "don't see it, they want war."
Read more: Hungary 'redefining' being NATO member amid Ukraine aid block: Orban
Despite the concerning developments, the situation has not reached a point of no return. He stressed the importance of a shift in leadership within Western governments to avert a potential conflict with Russia.
"We are at the penultimate moment to reverse the outbreak of the war. For this we need to achieve change in Brussels and Washington... If the European leaders wanted peace today, within 24 hours there would be a ceasefire at the front line. All they would have to do was to say: Dear Ukrainians, a ceasefire is necessary, we need to stop, we will not give more weapons and money until there is a ceasefire and peace negotiations," Orban said.
He also suggested that the prospect of achieving a peace agreement would improve if Donald Trump were to win the US presidential election in November. Orban pointed to Trump's pledge to swiftly end the conflict, expressing confidence that he could accomplish this within 24 hours of taking office.
Orban has maintained Hungary's stance of abstaining from involvement in any potential NATO intervention in Ukraine. He contends that the primary objective of the military alliance is to safeguard member states from external aggression, rather than engaging in conflicts beyond its borders.
Consistently critical of the Western response to the Ukraine crisis, Hungary has voiced opposition to NATO's provision of financial support and armaments to Ukraine, as well as the broad sanctions imposed on Russia. Instead, Hungary advocates for a ceasefire and diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Read more: Orban slams EU military conscription proposal as 'insane'
