Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated on Friday that he believes Ukraine has already lost its war against Russia's invasion.
Orbán, who is a vocal ally of both Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed confidence that upon his return to the presidency, Trump would put an end to U.S. support for Kyiv, signaling a potential shift in Western backing for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Orbán is hosting two days of summits in Budapest following Donald Trump's recent election victory. The ongoing war in Ukraine will be a primary focus during Friday's meeting of the European Union's 27 leaders. Many EU leaders see continued military and financial support for Ukraine as essential to Europe's security and stability, underscoring a significant divide in approaches to the conflict.
What Did Orbán Say About Ending the War in Ukraine?
On state radio, Orbán reaffirmed his stance that an immediate ceasefire should be declared in Ukraine. Orbán voiced optimism that Trump's return to office will lead to an end to the conflict, aligning with his long-standing call for a swift resolution to the war.
"If Donald Trump had won in 2020 in the United States, these two nightmarish years wouldn't have happened, there wouldn't have been a war," Orbán said. "The situation on the front is obvious, there's been a military defeat. The Americans are going to pull out of this war."
Is Russia Winning its War in Ukraine?
Russian forces have recently achieved modest gains in eastern Ukraine, though overall positions on the front lines have remained largely unchanged for months. Approaching the 1,000-day mark, Ukraine faces mounting challenges in countering Russia's larger and better-equipped military.
Western support remains essential for Ukraine to endure this protracted conflict, but uncertainty around that aid has grown following Donald Trump's presidential election victory. Trump has consistently expressed opposition to continued U.S. assistance for Ukraine, raising questions about the future of Western backing in the ongoing war.
How Has Zelensky Reacted?
At a European leaders' summit in Budapest on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced objections to Donald Trump's assertion that the war with Russia could be ended in a single day. Zelensky and his European allies fear that such a swift resolution would favor Putin, potentially leading to a peace deal that involves ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia.
"If it is going to be very fast, it will be a loss for Ukraine," Zelensky said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has consistently sought to weaken EU support for Ukraine, frequently obstructing or diluting the bloc's initiatives to provide weapons, funding, and sanctions against Moscow.
Despite Orbán's resistance, EU leaders have managed to find workarounds to maintain their support for Ukraine, emphasizing their commitment to aiding Kyiv irrespective of changes in U.S. leadership.
Speaking at Friday's summit, European Council President Charles Michel reinforced this stance, stating, "We have to strengthen Ukraine, to support Ukraine, because if we do not, this sends the wrong signal to Putin, and also to other authoritarian regimes worldwide."
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press
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