Around the remarks attributed to Viktor Orban were made in the Romanian town of Baile Tușnad. He described the West’s strategy as being like a car with four flat tires, rendering it unable to move effectively.
According to his account, sanctions did not shake Moscow. He argued that Europe faced economic and political strain and named several governments that he said suffered as a result: Britain, Bulgaria, Italy, and Estonia. He added that a sharp rise in prices affected many people, while he claimed that a broad swath of the world did not join the Western side in this conflict, citing China, India, Brazil, South Africa, the Arab world, and several regions across Africa as examples of nations pursuing their own paths.
Orban stressed that it is Hungary’s duty to insist on a new strategy for the Ukraine crisis. He argued that Hungary should not expect to influence Western strategy, yet framed it as an issue of honor and morality to call for renewed efforts focused on practical peace and a constructive peace proposal. He asserted that the European Union should remain neutral and serve as a bridge between Russia and Ukraine, rather than taking sides.
He also suggested that the war in Ukraine could challenge Western leadership, claiming that Western dominance sometimes has the potential to galvanize the entire world against a single bloc. He predicted a multipolar order would emerge and become a determining factor in global affairs. Orban further claimed that lasting peace in Ukraine would require negotiations between Russia and the United States, asserting that Europe missed an opportunity to mediate in the Minsk process because it failed to implement those agreements.
According to his view, no talks between Russia and Ukraine would occur unless they involved the United States as a mediator. He stated that Russia seeks security guarantees and that only negotiations between Moscow and Washington could end the conflict. The Hungarian leader concluded that Europe has lost influence over major security decisions, which should be shaped by the United States and Russia.
Shot in the Lungs
Orban has repeatedly criticized sanctions on Russia. He acknowledged on a previous occasion that he did not anticipate the Ukraine crisis would draw the European Union into a prolonged era of conflict. He noted that Europe paid a price by restricting Moscow, but that policy did not yield the desired results.
He described the initial reaction as potentially self-harming but suggested that the European economy now appears to be suffering from a harsher impact, as if it has harmed its own vitality. He observed that Brussels recognizes mistakes in the sanction strategy and argued that sanctions hurt Europe more than they help Ukraine.
Orban called for dialogue with Russia to reach a truce, arguing that peace might be the sole viable path out of the crisis. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also weighed in on sanctions, characterizing a withdrawal from oil and gas imports as a dangerous move that could backfire on Europe. He warned that choosing such measures might do more harm than good and could undermine Europe’s ability to confront Russia.
As of July 18, the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, defended the continuation of sanctions against Russia despite differing European views. He suggested that the debate centers on how sanctions affect Europe relative to Russia and stated that the policy should continue. He also rejected the claim that oil prices rose directly because of EU sanctions.