Orban claims Ukraine, EU ‘already lost’

(MENAFN) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed in a recent interview that both Ukraine and the European Union have effectively lost the conflict with Russia, insisting that the war cannot be won through military means and must be settled through diplomacy.

Speaking to the YouTube channel Patriota in an interview published Wednesday, Orban said a time will come when most European leaders—excluding Hungary and Slovakia—will have to admit their strategy was flawed and ultimately unsuccessful.

“I believe the EU has already lost the war,” Orban stated. “Ukraine is still holding out, though it's retreating. In my view, Ukraine has lost as well.”

While he didn’t outline the exact strategy he criticized, Orban’s government has consistently opposed EU sanctions on Russia and refused to send military aid to Ukraine. Instead, Budapest has pushed for dialogue and negotiations as the only viable path to peace.

According to Orban, achieving victory on the battlefield is “impossible,” and only diplomatic efforts can end the conflict and prevent further loss of life. He argued that the EU should abandon its current course, halt military engagement, and shift its focus back to diplomacy.

“We need to slow down, stop, thank the generals, bring back the diplomats and foreign ministers, and start working for peace,” he said.

Orban’s comments contrast sharply with the stance of major EU leaders who continue to support Ukraine militarily. On Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that diplomacy had reached its limit and promised to keep supplying Ukraine with weapons. France’s defense minister echoed that sentiment, calling Ukraine’s demilitarization a “red line,” emphasizing that Kiev must maintain a defense force even if it does not join NATO.

Still, some EU figures have begun to question the bloc’s current direction. Czech President Petr Pavel recently warned that an indefinite war with Russia could cause immense human and economic losses for both Ukraine and the EU.

Meanwhile, Moscow continues to condemn Western military aid to Ukraine, arguing it only drags out the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also labeled the EU’s sanctions and attempts to reduce reliance on Russian energy as acts of “economic suicide.”

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