Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed that Donald Trump, if elected in November, will quickly initiate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Orbán asserts that Trump has “well-founded plans” for these negotiations, based on their recent private discussions. As a result, Orbán has urged the European Union to reopen direct diplomatic communication with Russia and begin “high-level” negotiations with China to seek a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.
“We can expect no peace initiative coming from [Trump] until the elections. I can however surely state that shortly after his election victory, he will not wait until his inauguration, but will be ready to act as a peace broker immediately,” Orbán wrote in his letter to European Council president Charles Michel and EU leaders. “He has detailed and well-founded plans for this.”
In his letter, Orbán expressed a grim outlook based on his recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He noted a consensus that the military intensity is expected to escalate significantly in the near future. The Hungarian prime minister emphasized Moscow’s reliance on Beijing in this war, adding urgency to the need for diplomatic intervention.
Additionally, Orbán’s letter describes the EU’s alignment with what he says as the US’s “pro-war policy,” calling for a reassessment of this strategy and suggesting that the EU should formulate an independent and sovereign approach moving forward.
Orbán’s recent diplomatic meetings with Putin, Xi, and Trump have been criticised by EU and NATO allies, raising concerns that his push for a peace settlement, while Russia maintains control over substantial Eastern Ukrainian territories, might favor Moscow’s interests and weaken Western support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“I am more than convinced that in the likely outcome of the victory of President Trump, the proportion of the financial burden between the US and the EU will significantly change to the EU’s disadvantage when it comes to the financial support of Ukraine,” Orbán wrote in the letter.
Orbán has consistently criticized Western sanctions on Moscow and military aid to Ukraine, advocating instead for a ceasefire and peace talks. He also opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership at the 75th NATO summit in July. This position contrasts with the EU’s collective strategy, which supports Ukraine’s defense and upholds that Kyiv alone should decide the timing for any negotiations with Russia.
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