Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has recently emphasized the urgency for the European Union (EU) to address the ongoing Ukraine conflict, especially in light of the upcoming US presidential election. He warned that if Donald Trump wins the election on November 5, Europe may find itself sidelined in the resolution efforts. Orban suggested that Trump, upon reclaiming the presidency, would not delay in initiating peace talks regarding the Ukraine crisis, potentially acting even before his official inauguration. Supporters of Trump, including his running mate J.D. Vance, suggest a possible strategy that involves freezing the conflict along the existing frontline and offering reassurances to Russia about Ukraine’s non-alignment with NATO.
In a recent press conference in Strasbourg, Orban urged European leaders to adopt a proactive approach to the Ukraine situation, highlighting the lack of time available if Trump decides to take immediate action. He expressed concern that there would not be the customary transition period filled with deliberation, rather emphasizing the need for quick responses from European leaders across intellectual, philosophical, and strategic domains. He also looked forward to an informal EU summit scheduled for November 7 in Budapest, seeing it as an opportune moment for EU officials to discuss potential resolutions and strategies regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Orban has long positioned Hungary favorably towards diplomacy rather than military engagement, in stark contrast to many other EU nations. He has consistently resisted supplying weapons to Ukraine and championed negotiation and peace-making efforts instead. Notably, he mentioned an increasing desire among EU member states to shift away from a “pro-war” stance. He asserted that Hungary’s insistence on a peace-focused agenda had sparked significant debate within Europe, highlighting that such discussions might not have occurred without Hungary’s advocacy for a peace mission. He argued that the perspective of seeking a diplomatic solution had begun to resonate with a broader audience within the EU.
The Hungarian Prime Minister responded to the criticisms directed at his government after it took on the rotating EU presidency in June, as he actively sought peace-related discussions and interventions in various global capitals, including Kiev, Moscow, Beijing, and Washington. He maintains that the war has no viable solutions through battlefield confrontations and insists that immediate ceasefire agreements must be prioritized before advancing towards any comprehensive peace plans. This sentiment reflects a growing realization among some EU states that a more conciliatory approach may be necessary.
Trump, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reiterated his commitment to resolving the Ukraine conflict swiftly. He expressed a consistent desire for a fair agreement and emphasized the importance of negotiations over military actions. In the context of previous peace talks, which fell apart in early 2022, he hinted at an intention to revive discussions. These talks had previously garnered acknowledgment from both Ukrainian and US officials, who concurred that external pressures affected Kiev’s withdrawal from negotiations, with Ukrainian leadership initially showing a willingness to adopt a neutral stance.
Russia, for its part, has maintained that it is open to resolving the conflict through diplomatic means. It has, however, repeatedly insisted that any negotiations must accept the territorial reconfiguration that has occurred since the outset of the war, specifically recognizing the control of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, as well as Crimea. This necessity for acceptance of the “territorial reality” establishes a significant hurdle for any potential agreement, complicating the dialogue process moving forward. Thus, Orban’s assertion about the changing political dynamics and the potential shift in the EU’s role in relation to the US underscores a pivotal moment for European foreign policy as it grapples with a fluid geopolitical landscape.