Hungary’s government supports Beijing’s peace plan for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told parliament on Feb. 27. “We also consider China’s peace plan important and support it,” he told the lawmakers. In his half-hour speech, Orbán insisted that the ongoing conflict was “bad for Ukrainians, Russians, Hungarians, Europe, and it is becoming increasingly clear it is bad for the whole world.” The prime minister then maintained that Budapest should stay out of the conflict, as was decided through a “national consultation.”
Orbán furthermore said that he is worried to see weapons supplies going to Ukraine and is afraid that some of the EU countries may send troops there. He expressed serious concern that the whole of “Europe is sliding into a war step by step,” as EU countries are sending tanks to Ukraine and are looking at supplying fighter jets. “If things continue this way, there will be those who may want to send troops to Ukraine,” he said.
He stressed that his government insists on settling the Ukrainian conflict by peaceful means and called on lawmakers to advocate this position. “They want to drag us into this war, but I am calling on you not to yield to provocations,” Orbán argued. “We need a ceasefire, we need peace talks. That is why Hungary insists on peace at all international forums.”
He reiterated that he continues to be against the European Union’s anti-Russian sanctions, especially in the energy sector. He recalled that restrictions on fuel supplies had provoked a dramatic price rise and Hungary’s spending on energy sources had increased by €10 billion in 2022. “Brussels has taken this money from the pockets of Hungarians with the use of sanctions,” he declared.
