Hungary’s Orban Advocates for Stronger EU Cooperation on Markets and Defence, Excluding Political Matters – Reuters

BUDAPEST – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on Friday that the European Union (EU) should enhance collaboration regarding markets and defense, but not on political issues like migration, where significant differences among member states pose challenges.

"There are critical issues, even existential ones, for which we lack common solutions, such as war and peace, migration, gender, a labor-based society, and full employment," Orban remarked during a conference in Cernobbio, Italy. He emphasized that forcing unity on contentious topics would lead to the disintegration of the EU.

Orban noted that his earlier visits to Kyiv and Moscow, which drew criticism from some EU partners, have led him to believe there is currently no genuine intent from either side to achieve peace or a ceasefire. However, he asserted that maintaining open lines of communication is crucial for Europe’s efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Hungary has fostered close relations with Russia and has been overseeing the EU’s rotating six-month presidency since July. Following his assumption of the presidency, Orban traveled to Kyiv, made unexpected visits to Moscow and Beijing, and later participated in a NATO summit in Washington. His self-styled "peace mission" was met with significant criticism from other EU leaders, who distanced the bloc from his initiatives.

During his remarks, Orban endorsed Donald Trump’s approach to negotiation, expressing that peace cannot be achieved without sustained dialogue with both Ukraine and Russia. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation with Eastern nations to bolster Europe’s economic competitiveness.

"Our goal is to engage constructively with the West, including the United States, while simultaneously maximizing economic cooperation with the East—particularly with China, and even post-war cooperation with Russia in areas not subject to sanctions," Orban stated. He pointed out that Hungary depends on Russian gas and that Rosatom, a Russian state company, is constructing a nuclear power plant in Hungary.