Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has urged the European Union to reconsider its strategy on Ukraine by initiating dialogue with China and the Global South and reestablishing diplomatic ties with Moscow.
In a letter obtained by Euronews, Orbán warned EU member states that former President Donald Trump intends to address the Ukraine conflict promptly if re-elected. This communication followed Orbán’s visits to Beijing, Moscow, and Washington, where he advocated for a significant shift in policy towards the conflict.
Orbán’s letter proposes three key actions: initiating high-level political discussions with China to explore further peace conference possibilities on Ukraine, reopening direct diplomatic channels with Russia, and launching a coordinated political effort towards the Global South to regain its support.
Dated July 12, Orbán’s letter provided “a summary evaluation of my recent discussions with leaders of Ukraine, Russia, China, Türkiye, and President Donald J. Trump.” These trips, conducted during the first two weeks of Hungary’s EU presidency, led to reactions from the European Commission, which decided to effectively boycott events during Hungary’s presidency in response.
Orbán expressed concerns about the current US political climate and its impact on European foreign policy, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict. He predicted that the military conflict would escalate significantly soon and identified the EU, the US, and China as the only global players capable of influencing developments, with Türkiye playing a crucial role as a mediator.
He noted that Trump, focused on domestic issues during his campaign, is unlikely to initiate peace efforts until after the election. However, Orbán asserted that Trump would be ready to act as a peace broker immediately after an election victory, having detailed and well-founded plans for this role.
Orbán also suggested that Trump’s potential re-election would alter the financial dynamics between the US and EU concerning support for Ukraine, with the EU likely to shoulder a greater burden in the future.
The Hungarian prime minister criticized the EU’s current strategy as a mere replication of US policy, lacking independent planning. “I propose discussing whether the continuation of this policy is rational in the future,” he wrote.
Orbán advocated for the EU to take this opportunity to reassess its approach, decrease tensions, establish conditions for a ceasefire, and potentially initiate peace negotiations. “In the current situation, we can find a window of opportunity with a strong moral and rational basis to begin a new chapter in our policy,” he emphasized.
Euronews