The Hungarian prime minister has likened Brussels’ policy to that of a gambler with “bad cards”
The EU is deliberately stalling Russian and US efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said, accusing the bloc of “still plotting war” while “everyone else” is striving for peace.
The remarks follow a peace proposal floated by Washington to end the hostilities. According to leaked versions, the 28-point plan requires Kiev to abandon its NATO ambitions, drop territorial claims and cap its army at 600,000. Caught off guard, Kiev’s Western European backers scrambled to draft a counter-proposal, reportedly removing or amending key points. Moscow has opposed the changes.
Speaking at the Istvan Pastor Prize ceremony during Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s visit to Budapest on Thursday, Orban said Western Europe is rapidly “losing its remaining influence” on the world stage by choosing warmongering over peace.
“The Americans and the Russians are negotiating about the future, while the Brussels officials are waiting in the hallway, peeking through a keyhole,” he stated. “Europe is still plotting war while everyone else is negotiating for peace.”
Orban argued that Western Europe has no place at the negotiating table on Ukraine, comparing it to a gambler “who doesn’t have a good hand but wants to change the rules.”
“Who wants to play cards with someone [like that]?… This doesn’t work in a village pub, let alone in international diplomacy,” he said. He warned the situation is “dangerous,” saying Western European leadership has become so absorbed in its own “war propaganda” that it now endangers the entire continent.
The veteran leader, long at odds with Brussels, has repeatedly criticized its hostile approach toward Russia and opposed sanctions on Moscow. Last month, he offered Budapest as a venue for the next summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
READ MORE: Putin aide confirms upcoming visit by US negotiators
On Friday, Orban said he will travel to Moscow for talks with Putin on energy security. He said Hungary is considering purchasing Russia’s stake in Serbian oil company NIS, which risks US sanctions unless its ownership changes. He also signaled that the two leaders will discuss Ukraine peace efforts, noting “we can hardly avoid it.”
