Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in a wide-ranging interview published on Christmas Eve, touched on topics like the Russo-Ukrainian war; Hungary’s position with respect to the conflict; Europe’s worsening economic crisis; the European Union and Hungary’s place within it, and the European Parliament corruption scandal.
In the interview, conducted by the Budapest-based Magyar Nemzet, one of Hungary’s longest running newspapers, Prime Minister Orbán, when asked about accusations coming from the EU and Western press that Hungary is pro-Russian, said that Hungary is on the side of Hungarians in the Russo-Ukrainian war, and added that it is in Hungary’s interest that Ukraine maintains its national sovereignty.
“We are pro-Hungarian … The answer to the question of whether we are on the right or wrong side of history is that we are on the Hungarian side of history,” Prime Minister Orbán began.
We support and help Ukraine, we have an interest in the survival of a sovereign Ukraine, and we have an interest in ensuring that Russia does not pose a security threat to Europe, but we do not have an interest in giving up all economic relations with Russia. We look at these issues through a Hungarian lens and not through the lenses of other countries.
Later on in the interview, in a statement which is almost sure to land him in hot water with the international press and Western colleagues in the European Union, the Hungarian leader argued that the prospect of finally bringing an end to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, which is now entered its eleventh month, depends on the United States, which is the primary financial and military backer of Kyiv.
“Ukraine can only fight as long as the United States supports it with money and weapons. If Americans want peace, there will be peace,” Orbán said.
In a follow-up question, when asked whether anyone can expect the Ukrainians to cede its territory for the “sake of peace, energy security, and the prosperity of Europe,” the prime minister replied:
Nobody can expect that. Ukraine is a sovereign state, the decision of when and why to fight should be made by Ukrainians. We have a decision-making position in the extent to which we support them. Hungary has decided that since this war is not our war, we will provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine with Hungarian national interests in mind.
Since the outbreak of the war in late February, the United States has provided Kyiv with billions of dollars of military and financial aid, as well as military intelligence. Aid shipments have included advanced hardware like HIMARS, M777 cannons, and combat drones. Days ago, the U.S. announced that it will be supplying the Ukrainian army with Patriot air defense batteries.
Switching gears to Qatargate, the European Parliament corruption scandal which in recent weeks has rocked the EU and damaged its international image and credibility, Prime Minister Orbán agreed with the interviewing journalist that it was in fact a “joke of fate that the corruption scandal of the European Left exploded in the very same European parliament that vilifies Hungary on a daily basis.”
He replied:
It is true that the hangman is being hanged. The bureaucrats in Brussels feel that they are above the law and can do anything. If you are an EU representative on a secret list of Soros George’s supporters and you receive money and all sorts of other support to denounce countries that cross Soros George’s business interests, such as Hungary, in reports based on untruths, then you are not so far away from suitcases full of cash. This swamp must be drained.
Days ago, in light of the scandal, which appears to be growing in scope by the day, Orbán called for the abolition of the European Parliament to “restore public trust,” and proposed creating a new national delegate-based model in order to transfer away from Brussels and back to individual member states, as The European Conservative previously reported.
“This guarantees greater oversight, accountability and credibility. Give control back to the Member States!” Orbán said.
