Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently shared his stark assessment of the Ukraine war, telling former U.S. President Donald Trump that the conflict’s outcome is already decided, with Russia emerging as the victor.
Orban’s comments, reported by Index, underscore his long-standing skepticism about Western intervention in the region.
Western Forces Could Trigger a Global Conflict
Orban warned that the only way Ukraine could turn the tide would be through the deployment of hundreds of thousands of troops from Western Europe or the United States directly to the frontlines.
However, he cautioned that such a move would likely escalate into a world war.
According to Orban, Western nations are more focused on dividing Ukraine for political gain than confronting Russia, pointing to what he described as the rise of “colonial attitudes” in Europe.
Trump Interrupts Dinner Over Energy Questions
The Hungarian leader recounted on TikTok that Trump called him during dinner with his wife to discuss whether Hungary could cut ties with Russian oil and gas.
Orban explained Hungary’s national interests and energy constraints, noting that the country relies on Soviet-era pipelines and has no access to the sea.
After the call, he calmly finished his traditional dish, lecsó, before retiring for the night, according to Telex.
Ukraine’s Sovereignty in Question
On the YouTube program Harcosok órája, Orban claimed that Ukraine can no longer consider itself fully sovereign after losing roughly one-fifth of its territory.
He emphasized that Ukraine’s future now depends entirely on Western support:
“If we—the West—decide not to provide even a single forint, Ukraine may cease to exist.”
Orban clarified that Hungary and Ukraine are not enemies, even if they may have disagreements.
Calls for Peace Through Territorial Concessions
Hungarian Foreign Secretary Levente Magyar previously suggested that Ukraine could cede one-fifth of its territory to secure a peace deal with Russia, drawing parallels to the Trianon Treaty after World War I.
Ukraine quickly rejected the notion. MFA spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi stated that Kyiv has no intention of negotiating away its territory or sovereignty.
Orban Advocates Direct Talks With Moscow
Orban has consistently highlighted Russia’s upper hand in the conflict and proposed that the EU should pursue security agreements directly with Moscow rather than Washington.
His idea included provisions preventing Ukraine from joining NATO or the EU.
While Russia opposes restrictions on NATO membership, it has shown some limited willingness to discuss EU-related negotiations.
Strained Hungary-Ukraine Relations
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have been rising in recent months.
Points of contention include Ukraine’s attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies fuel to Hungary and Slovakia, as well as alleged incursions by Hungarian drones into Ukrainian airspace—claims that Orban has denied.