Hungary’s Orban pushes for US-Russia talks on Ukraine, praises Merkel
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban (Photo:REUTERS/Go Nakamura)
Since Washington is supplying Ukraine with weapons and intelligence, the United States and Russia should negotiate and hammer out a Ukraine peace deal, Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said during a press event on Oct. 11.
According to Orban, U.S. President Joe Biden “went too far” in calling Russian dictator Vladimir Putin a war criminal, and that Donald Trump remains the “best hope for peace.”
The Hungarian leader also commended former German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her negotiations with Russia after the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014, which he said allowed to “isolate” and “leave the conflict Ukrainian-Russian.”
According to the Hungarian PM, he is primarily interested in the interests of Hungary and, although his country is on the side of Ukraine, he does not want to help Ukrainians in such a way that “Hungary is economically ruined and Hungarians die.” He said he stands for an “immediate ceasefire” and “negotiations.”
Orban also criticized the EU sanctions policy, calling Russia a “giant” in the energy sector, describing it as “a dwarf sanctioning a giant and then wondering why it does not work.” In Orban’s view, the bloc should seek energy independence, instead of switching to U.S. LNG supply.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed to the countries that insist on the need for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and stressed Russia is not looking to negotiate in good faith.
“Stop playing this game,” said Kuleba.
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