Hungarian President Viktor Orbán, after a meeting with former President Donald Trump in Florida, stated that Trump plans to halt the conflict between Russia and Ukraine by discontinuing American financial support.
Orbán expressed in an interview that Trump, the leading contender for the White House, is resolute about not providing any further funding for the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. According to Orbán, this decision will effectively bring an end to the war, as Ukraine lacks the resources to sustain itself without American and European aid.
During his visit to the United States aimed at repairing strained relations between the two countries, Orbán highlighted areas of disagreement with the Biden administration, including LGBT ideology and mass migration. He attributed the primary cause of discord between the U.S. and Hungary to their differing stances on the Ukrainian conflict, emphasizing the Biden administration’s pro-war stance compared to Hungary’s pro-peace position.
Orbán praised Trump as a proponent of peace, noting his record of ending conflicts during his presidency. He underscored Trump’s commitment to achieving peace in the Russian-Ukrainian war and emphasized their shared desire for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Orbán also indicated that President Trump has elaborate strategies for ending the conflict but refrained from disclosing details, citing his lack of authority to reveal plans of a potential future American president. He simply stated that these plans align with Hungary’s interests.
Trump has consistently asserted his intention to swiftly resolve the Ukraine war, suggesting it could conclude within 24 hours of his re-election. He maintains that the conflict would not have escalated if he were still in office.
In contrast to Trump’s calls for peace talks, President Biden has reportedly not engaged in discussions with Russian leader Vladimir Putin since the war erupted two years ago.
Despite acknowledgments from figures like former Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhny that the conflict has reached a stalemate and widespread recognition of Kyiv’s failed counteroffensive last year, the Biden administration is pushing for increased military aid. They are urging Congress to approve an additional $64 billion in taxpayer funds on top of the already allocated $113 billion.
The Hungarian president echoed Donald Trump’s critiques of the NATO military alliance, highlighting the consistent failure of affluent European nations like France and Germany to meet their defense spending commitments, set at 2 percent of GDP.
“The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has underscored the imperative of not being complacent; security demands investment, which comes with a cost. This expense must be borne by the Hungarian budget. While it’s a challenging endeavor, I believe the Americans have a valid standpoint,” Orbán remarked, acknowledging Hungary’s past shortcomings in meeting NATO spending requirements. However, he noted a shift in Hungary’s approach, now prioritizing fulfilling its financial obligations.
“It’s time for Europe to acknowledge the need for rearmament. We cannot rely on the United States to foot the security bills. Every European nation, including ours, must shoulder its financial responsibilities. We need to build our own military capacity, procure necessary equipment, and be prepared to defend our sovereignty or contribute to collective defense efforts within alliances,” he emphasized.
