Hungarian PM Orbán Calls Russia Too Weak to Threaten NATO Amid Ukraine War

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly emphasized in interviews that Russia is too weak to pose a serious threat to NATO or escalate the Ukraine war into a global conflict, asserting that Russia cannot even defeat Ukraine. Orbán opposes Ukraine's membership in both NATO and the European Union, arguing it is not in Hungary's or the EU's interest to risk direct conflict with Russia. He advocates for negotiations primarily between Russia and the United States to end the war, rather than direct agreements involving Ukraine or Europe. Orbán has taken concrete steps to block Ukraine's EU accession process, including delaying negotiations and planning a consultative referendum in Hungary on the issue. He criticizes EU sanctions and arms sales to Ukraine, claiming they harm the European economy, including Hungary's, and expresses willingness to engage diplomatically with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Orbán's stance reflects a broader pro-Russian approach, prioritizing pragmatic deals with Moscow over confrontation, despite opposition from other EU members and Ukrainian leadership.