Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sparked widespread controversy across Europe after questioning who initiated the Russia–Ukraine war and sharply criticizing Western leaders for their continued support of Kyiv.
Speaking after a European Council summit, Orbán argued that EU leaders justify their support by portraying Ukraine as a small country under attack, a narrative he openly challenged.
“Of course, it is not that small,” Orbán said, referring to Ukraine. “And it is also not clear who attacked whom. Nevertheless, it is a country that has been subjected to violence,” he added, as quoted by A2 CNN.
Putin reiterates Kremlin narrative
When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he claimed that Moscow’s goals were the “liberation of Donbas from the Kyiv regime” and the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine.
At his annual press conference on Friday, Putin once again defended what the Kremlin refers to as a “special military operation.”
“We do not consider ourselves responsible for the deaths of people because we were not the ones who started the war,” Putin said, blaming the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and alleging a “coup d’état.”
Ukraine responds sharply
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to Orbán’s remarks on social media, stating:
“It was just as ‘unclear’ for Hungary’s leadership in 1939.”
Deepening divisions within the EU
Orbán made the comments as EU leaders agreed to jointly borrow €90 billion to provide financial assistance to Ukraine.
However, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic opted out of the financing program, further solidifying a Ukraine-skeptical bloc within the EU and dealing another blow to European unity.
At the same time, EU leaders failed to reach consensus on the use of more than €200 billion in frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine.
Putin’s warning to Hungary
Ahead of Thursday’s EU summit, Orbán also revealed that President Putin personally warned him that Russia would take countermeasures if the EU used frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine.
According to Orbán, Putin cautioned that Moscow would deliver a “strong response using all instruments of international law”, taking into account the position of each EU member state.
“We Hungarians have protected ourselves,” Orbán concluded.
