Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces advance in Zaporiz...

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces advance in Zaporizhzhia as Hungary says Ukraine has ‘no chance’ of winning

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has said Ukraine has “no chance” of winning the war with Russia and that continued EU financial support for Kyiv is “just crazy.” Orban claimed the EU has “burned already €185 billion” on support for Ukraine and argued that continuing to fund Kyiv “kills” the bloc “economically” and “financially.” His comments came in an interview with Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, which owns POLITICO. Hungary has continued to block the EU sanctions against Russia and denounced financial support for Ukraine. Obran had lobbied for the exemption of US oil sanctions on Russia. He also accused European leaders of prolonging the conflict in the hope of securing a stronger position in future peace negotiations. “They would like to continue the war,” he said. “They think we have to support Ukraine more – it’s wrong, totally wrong.” Arguing that “the situation and the time is better for the Russians than for us,” Orban urged Europe to push for a ceasefire “as soon as we can.” On possible peace talks, he predicted a broader deal “between the Russians and the Americans” covering the war, trade and energy. He also said Europe should establish its own channel to Moscow: “Let the Americans negotiate with the Russians, and then the Europeans should also negotiate … and see whether we can unify the position.”

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has said Ukraine has “no chance” of winning the war with Russia and that continued EU financial support for Kyiv is “just crazy.”

Orban claimed the EU has “burned already €185 billion” on support for Ukraine and argued that continuing to fund Kyiv “kills” the bloc “economically” and “financially.”

His comments came in an interview with Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, which owns POLITICO.

Hungary has continued to block the EU sanctions against Russia and denounced financial support for Ukraine. Obran had lobbied for the exemption of US oil sanctions on Russia.

He also accused European leaders of prolonging the conflict in the hope of securing a stronger position in future peace negotiations.

“They would like to continue the war,” he said. “They think we have to support Ukraine more – it’s wrong, totally wrong.”

Arguing that “the situation and the time is better for the Russians than for us,” Orban urged Europe to push for a ceasefire “as soon as we can.”

On possible peace talks, he predicted a broader deal “between the Russians and the Americans” covering the war, trade and energy.

He also said Europe should establish its own channel to Moscow: “Let the Americans negotiate with the Russians, and then the Europeans should also negotiate … and see whether we can unify the position.”