Only Donald Trump can stop the war in Ukraine says Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban

In a recent interview, Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban said that only Donald Trump can stop the war in Ukraine.

Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, emphasized in an extensive interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that the sole route to conclude the war in Ukraine would involve Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president.

Orbán Praises Trump’s Foreign Policy

In the interview posted on Wednesday on Carlson’s page on X (formerly Twitter), the nationalist Orbán praised Trump’s foreign policy while criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration and its approach to the conflict.

Despite Trump facing criminal charges over his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election, Orbán contended that restoring the former president to power would be “the only viable solution” to the conflict. He refuted any notion that Ukraine could triumph over Russia, terming it “misleading”.

“Russia’s strength and numbers exceed Ukraine’s by a significant margin,” said Hungary’s Prime Minister. “We must bring back Trump. … Trump holds the key to rescuing the Western world.”

Orbán’s perspective on the war contrasts with the views of U.S. and Ukrainian officials who characterize the invaded nation’s potential to regain control of Russian-occupied regions.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, speaking last week to reporters, rejected the notion that the conflict is at a standstill.

“We continue to support Ukraine in its pursuit of territory as part of its counteroffensive, and we observe steady, calculated territorial advancements,” Sullivan asserted.

The 30-minute video interview with Carlson was filmed on August 21 on the lavish terrace of Orbán’s office overlooking Budapest. This marked Carlson’s second interview with the right-wing leader in two years. During his tenure as a Fox News host, his program was broadcast from Hungary’s capital for a week in 2021.

Back then, Carlson lauded Orbán’s concept of an “illiberal democracy,” which strays from conventional liberal principles to embrace conservative Christian governance. He considered this a blueprint for the United States.

Orbán’s Views on the Conflict and U.S. Sanctions

Orbán, who has been in office since 2010, has long been under scrutiny for presiding over an increasingly autocratic political structure. The European Union, the U.S. State Department, and various global observers have accused Orbán of curtailing minority rights, seizing control over the judiciary and media, and manipulating the electoral system to maintain his grip on power.

In his recent interview with Carlson, Orbán criticized the numerous indictments against Trump, including allegations of mishandling classified information. He denounced the exploitation of government power in the U.S., something he believes is unthinkable in Hungary.

“Using the justice system against political rivals — such a scenario is unimaginable in Hungary. This was a strategy of the Communists. It’s a starkly Communist approach,” Orbán stated.

Orbán’s Critique of U.S. State Department

He also lamented the U.S. State Department’s efforts to urge Hungary to enhance its record on the rule of law and human rights. Despite Hungary’s NATO membership and U.S. ally status, Orbán argued it faces more unfavorable treatment than Russia. He questioned the rationale behind this treatment.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Orbán’s government has nurtured close relations with Moscow and defied EU sanctions against Russia.

Orbán, a key ally of Putin in the EU, refused to let Western weapons cross Hungary’s border into Ukraine. He has called for an immediate cease-fire and peace discussions in the conflict. However, he hasn’t clarified how this approach would impact Ukraine’s territorial integrity.