Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban has stressed on state radio that the European Union must abandon its policy of sanctioning Russia for its war in Ukraine or risk causing an economic collapse.
He called for the EU’s sanction regime to be reviewed, “because with such a policy of sanctions, energy prices will not come down.”
“It will be painful for those who argued for sanctions. Not for us, because we will see this as a victory, but the other camp has to change because otherwise it will destroy the European economy.”
Viktor Orban
The EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Moscow since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, targeting the energy sector, banks, the world’s biggest diamond mining company and other businesses.
Orban, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the EU, has broken with the majority of European leaders and vocally opposed such sanctions, arguing they did more to damage European economies than they did Russia’s.
Hungary currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU and has de-emphasized retaliatory measures against Russia in that role.
EU leaders, however, are making plans to impose a new round of penalties against Moscow.
On Thursday, November 14, 2024, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the EU step up against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” ships that export Russian oil in violation of sanctions.
The legislature also wants the bloc to ban the import of Russian fossil fuels.
Orban opposes such a ban and has leveraged exceptions from the EU during previous rounds of sanctions that allowed landlocked Hungary to continue importing Russian oil and gas, which he argues are essential to sustaining Hungary’s economy.
Last week, the Hungarian leader predicted that President-elect, Donald Trump would pull U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
A Trump presidency, Orban has argued, will revive Hungary’s sputtering economy, now in a technical recession.
Speaking on state radio, he iterated that the “pro-peace presidential candidate won, and now we are waiting for peace.”
Orban Tells Outgoing U.S Administration To Halt Support For Ukraine
Moreover, Orban stated that the outgoing Joe Biden-led administration should end military support for Ukraine in the remaining days before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The Hungarian Prime Minister noted that in the US, the debate over future policies regarding the conflict in Ukraine is ongoing.
“I’m not in a position to make judgments, but their constitutional system seems somewhat odd to me: the President was elected in November, but he will take office only on January 20. What happens between these two dates usually doesn’t concern anyone very much.
“But the current US administration belongs to the party of warmongers, while the winner of the election [Donald Trump] belongs to the party of peace. That’s where certain questions arise.”
Viktor Orban
Orban said that it would be only fair and just for the outgoing Biden administration to reduce military support for Ukraine as power changes hands.
“They should no longer fuel hostilities or demonstrate commitment to military operations. Instead, they should give the new pro-peace president a chance to implement his program as calmly as possible.”
Viktor Orban
Earlier, Orban had repeatedly expressed hope that a peace settlement in Ukraine would come with Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
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