Orbán’s Policy Is in Russia’s Interests
At an “anti-war” meeting in Szombathely, Hungary’s current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called Ukraine an enemy of Hungary. Another high-ranking official of this country, its Minister of Foreign Affairs Szijjártó, also recently stated that as long as their party is in power, Ukraine will not be able to become a member of the EU.
From these two statements by current Hungarian politicians, one can logically conclude that Orbán and Szijjártó are enemies of Ukraine and the European Union.
The matter is that Orbán and Szijjártó’s position is in line with the interests of Russia, which has unleashed an aggressive and bloody war in the heart of Europe. Therefore, it is still necessary to figure out who is a friend and who is an enemy.
It is also important not to forget the lessons of history and to remind everyone that in the mid-1980s, Hungary was referred to in the West as the freest and most cheerful barrack in the Soviet concentration camp.
It is also known that in 1956, Hungarians tried to break out of this concentration camp, but the USSR, together with Hungarian collaborators, drowned the Hungarians’ desire for independence and freedom in blood.
In the 21st century, Russian imperialists, who consider themselves the heirs of the Soviet empire, have unleashed a bloody war against Ukraine, which they also want to return to Russian imperial slavery. Ukrainians do not want such a fate, and therefore have been waging a just war against the Russians for their independence and freedom for almost four years.
The vast majority of European leaders also understand very well why Putin started this war. It has become clear to everyone that Russia does not intend to stop at Ukraine, and Ukraine’s defeat in this war would pose a real threat to the entire EU, which is why Brussels has supported and will continue to support Ukraine.
It is obvious that Ukraine’s defeat will mean Russia’s strengthening, and then the Russians will be able to mobilize all their resources for a future invasion of Europe. For Europeans, Ukraine’s independence and security are of paramount importance, as they are crucial to the security of Europe itself.
And one more thing. Everyone understands that Ukraine’s accession to the EU will significantly strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities and significantly strengthen its position in the international arena. Obviously, this is not in Russia’s interests in the first place. This raises the question: is it in the interests of Hungary and the EU, of which Hungary is a member, for Viktor Orbán and his party to pursue their policies?
Let us hope that on April 12, Hungarians will give their politicians a fair assessment and make the right choice. Then we will know for sure who is a friend and who is an enemy, and whether Hungary will remain a full member of the EU or return to Russia’s imperial yoke.
Oleh Bereziuk
Institute for Global Politics
Photo: Getty Images
