BUDAPEST: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged fellow Europeans on Friday to recognise that Donald Trump’s re-election would change the dynamics of Russia’s war in Ukraine and called for Europe to move from war to peace.
“The situation at the front is obvious, there is a military defeat for Ukraine,” Orban said in a radio interview as he hosted European Union leaders for a second day of talks in Budapest.
Trump, who boasted on the campaign trail that he could end the conflict within hours, has been a key figure for Orban.
The Hungarian Prime Minister described the returning Republican leader as a man who hates war, presenting a new situation for Europe by raising questions about US support for Kyiv.
For Orban, a staunch Trump ally who, unlike many other EU leaders, has been advocating for a swift ceasefire in Ukraine. “Let’s urgently adapt and move from war to peace,” he said.
Speaking in Budapest on Thursday after talks with European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed calls for a ceasefire as dangerous and irresponsible, offering no guarantees of security for Kyiv.
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a joint statement reaffirming their determination to provide unwavering support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
They reiterated their resolve to maintain and reinforce their support for Kyiv with the goal of repelling Russia’s aggression.
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For Orban, the unified European stance on Ukraine appears to be fracturing.
“The number of those who keep quiet, even though they were previously outspoken, is growing,” he said.
“The number of those who are cautious is growing, and the number of those who are raising the question of whether we should adapt to the new situation is also rising,” he said.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson responded: “I think the opposite is true—the level of support for Ukraine remains unchanged,” he said in Budapest. –AFP
