Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sees himself in a fight with the West, which – according to the head of government – wants to impose the wrong sanctions policy and foreign values on his country. "Western civilization's power, performance, reputation and ability to act are on the wane," the right-wing Fidesz politician told thousands of supporters in the Romanian spa town of Baile Tusnad on Saturday.
The sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow "won't change the situation" and "Ukrainians will not emerge victorious," Orban stressed. "The more heavy weapons the West sends in, the more the war drags on."
Referring to the sanctions against Russia, Orban said last week that the European Union had not just shot itself in the knee "but in the lung". Above all, the Hungarian head of government criticized the oil embargo against Russia. The EU decided this in June after weeks of resistance from Hungary. At Orban's urging, an exception was made for oil delivered by pipeline.
Orban also accused the EU of "Brussels" being run by a "host" of US investor and democracy promoter George Soros. The Hungarian-born billionaire and Holocaust survivor has been the enemy of the right-wing government in Budapest for years. "They should live how they want, but they should also let us live how we want," Orban demanded, alluding to EU infringement proceedings over a Hungarian law that restricts information rights about homosexuals and transsexuals.
Orban also criticized the West for ignoring Russia's security claims ahead of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. "With US President (Donald) Trump and German Chancellor (Angela) Merkel, this war would never have happened," he said, apparently guided by the assessment that these politicians - like him - would have stood for a more pro-Russian policy.
The former Chancellor often had contacts with Vladimir Putin. However, critics accuse the former chancellor of having underestimated Putin; the federal government looked the other way.
Donald Trump and Putin have been said to have a "special bond" because of similar personality traits. Trump described the Kremlin boss as "ingenious" and "clever". He knows him well. However, Trump also claimed that there would have been no Ukraine war with him. He had "threatened him like he had never been threatened before".
Orban also criticized on Saturday that the current strategy in the Ukraine war is no longer working. "We're in a car with four flat tires," he said of efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine. "A new strategy is needed, which should focus on peace negotiations rather than trying to win the war."
According to the Hungarian head of government, only talks between the US and Russia can end the conflict, as Russia demands security guarantees that only Washington can give. The EU should "not side with the Ukrainians" but position itself between the two camps, Orban added.
Orban has governed the EU country of Hungary since 2010. Orban is in conflict with the European Union over the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law. Several procedures are currently underway against Hungary, including one under the new Rule of Law Mechanism, which could lead to the withdrawal of EU funding.
Baile Tusnad (Hungarian: Tusnadfürdö) is located in a compact Hungarian settlement area in Transylvania. Until 1918 the region had belonged to Hungary. The Fidesz party has held a summer academy in Baile Tusnad for more than three decades. Orban, who is a Fidesz co-founder, traditionally gives the closing speech there. At first, Romanian nationalists tried to disrupt Orban's speech. They shouted: "Transylvania will remain Romanian soil forever!" The Romanian police took them away.
