Orban shocks Europe; Is Ukraine becoming a buffer zone between Russia and NATO?

According to him, after the war, Ukraine should become a buffer zone between Russia and NATO.

The portal portfolio.hu, citing an interview with the Hungarian Prime Minister for the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, reports that Orbán stated Ukraine must understand that continuing the war will result in increasing losses, and that territorial concessions to Russia, in his view, are inevitable.

Orbán believes that Russia could retain territories determined by an international peace conference, while the remaining part of Ukraine would serve as a buffer zone between Russia and NATO. He also mentioned that it would be acceptable for Russia and NATO, under such circumstances, to agree on the size and equipment of the Ukrainian army.

The Hungarian Prime Minister again emphasized that the most realistic initial U.S. plan with 28 points to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict, although criticized by Europe as being too favorable to Moscow's interests, should serve as a starting point. According to Orbán, after the war, Russia should gradually reintegrate into global economic flows, and sanctions against Moscow would be lifted.

However, that plan was later revised by the Americans themselves after consultations with European states and discussions with Ukrainians.

Orbán accused European Union countries of encouraging the war for financial gain. At a weekend anti-war gathering organized by the ruling Fidesz party in the city of Nyíregyháza, he stated that prolonging the war benefits the West, because they believe Ukraine can win on the battlefield.

“Europeans want war, we want a ceasefire and security,” Orbán said, adding that “Europeans support a war that will be paid for with Ukrainian blood.”

He also noted that the reason for Russia’s attack is a sense of insecurity following the collapse of the Soviet Union, as NATO continued to expand eastward and there was the possibility of Ukraine joining the alliance.

“Russians have the right to their own security and do not want NATO as a neighbor,” Orbán said.