As Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are about to meet this Friday, European nations have rallied to support Ukraine, ensuring its interests aren't ignored in the talks. However, Hungary, a European nation, has taken a lone stance against Ukraine, insisting that Ukraine has already lost the war. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described the recent European Union statement supporting Ukraine as pitiful and targeted Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for making a fuss unnecessary.
In an interview on Tuesday, Orban claimed Russia has already emerged victorious. Since 2010, Orban has maintained strong ties with Russia and has opposed Europe's decisions to militarily support Ukraine, a stance that has drawn significant criticism.
After the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, while most European nations severed or limited ties with Russia, Hungary chose a different path, bolstering closer relations with Russia.
Earlier this week, all European Union countries came together to issue a joint statement in favor of Ukraine, but Hungary refused to endorse it. The statement, which received backing from all EU nations except Hungary, proclaimed Ukraine's right to determine its own future.
In an interview with the Patriot YouTube channel, Orban remarked, 'We discuss as if it were an open war, but it's not. Ukraine has lost; Russia has won this war.'
Critiquing European countries further, he added, 'The only question now is when and under what circumstances will the Western nations backing Ukraine accept that Russia has already won.'
Reliant on Russia for most of its energy, Hungary has also rejected supplying arms to Ukraine during the war, unlike other EU nations. Orban is also a staunch opponent of granting Ukraine EU membership.
Ukraine, along with nine other nations, is a candidate for EU membership, but Hungary firmly opposes Ukraine's permanent membership, arguing it could devastate Hungarian farmers and the nation's economy.
Orban opines that Europe missed an opportunity to engage with Putin during former US President Joe Biden's administration, leading to fears that Ukraine's future could be decided without its involvement.
He jabbed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that if Ukraine isn’t at the negotiating table, it means they can't decide their fate, suggesting those who don't decide end up served on a platter. He added, 'If you're not at the negotiation table, then you are indeed on the menu.'
Explaining his opposition to the EU's joint statement during the interview, Orban asserted it made Europe appear 'ridiculous and pitiful.'
Mocking the chaos in Europe and Ukraine before the Trump-Putin meeting, Hungary's Prime Minister remarked, 'When two leaders—the American and the Russian—sit down to talk, and you're not invited, you shouldn't be running around trying to reach them over the phone or shouting from the outside.'
