Prime Minister Viktor Orban evaded answering the query of whether or not he personally considers Russia an aggressor state, proposing to "depart judgment to historians," Swiss media outlet Neue Zurcher Zeitung reported on Feb. 3.
Orban, whose authorities is extensively thought to be the EU's most Russia-friendly, has repeatedly criticized help for Ukraine, arguing it prolongs and escalates the warfare.
"Let's depart the judgment to the historians. I’m a politician, and we’ve an EU determination. It obliges me to talk of 'Russian aggression,'" Orban advised Neue Zurcher Zeitung.
Orban additionally believed that Russia didn’t pose a menace to Hungary regardless of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2021 calls for for NATO to return to its 1997 borders that excludes Hungary and different Central European states from the alliance.
"I requested him (Putin) instantly whether or not he had an issue with Hungary's NATO membership. He mentioned no. As a result of we don't have any weapons stationed on our territory that Russia sees as a menace," Orban mentioned.
"He’s involved with long-range tactical weapons. It's laborious to think about the Hungarians invading Moscow (laughs)," the prime minister added.
Throughout the interview with Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Orban as soon as once more referred to as for peace talks to finish Russia's warfare towards Ukraine and mentioned that with out them, Ukraine dangers turning into "the Afghanistan of the European Union."
Orban's remarks come amid strained relations between Hungary and the EU. Beforehand, the European Fee criticized Hungary for failing to satisfy democratic requirements, significantly concerning political financing, conflicts of curiosity, and media independence.
Hungary can even not obtain 1.04 billion euros ($1.08 billion) in help from the EU as a result of violations of the rule of legislation. Budapest failed to satisfy the necessities, and thus misplaced funding, in accordance with the European Fee.
The Kyiv IndependentOksana Ihnatenko