Hungary’s Orbán Calls For New Strategy On Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is calling for a new EU strategy on Ukraine following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election.

Orbán, at a summit of Turkic-speaking countries in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek said Trump might halt U.S. aid to Kiev in its defence against Russia.

“The question arises as to whether Europe will be able to shoulder the financial and military support for Ukraine on its own.

“There are serious doubts about this, so a new European strategy is needed,’’ Orbán said, according to the state-run Hungarian news agency MTI.

An informal EU summit is set to take place in Budapest on Friday, following a meeting on Thursday of the wider European Political Community.

The outcome of the U.S. election and its implications are likely to be among the dominant topics.

Hungary currently holds the rotating 6-month EU presidency.

In a Facebook video, Orbán described Trump’s election victory as “brilliant.” He said it would “bring hope for peace to the world.”

Orbán maintains a good relationship with Trump, as well as with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Within the EU, the Hungarian prime minister is considered an outsider due to his pro-Russian stance and the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law in his own country.

He only supports EU sanctions against Moscow half-heartedly, repeatedly diluting corresponding sanction resolutions with veto threats.

Orbán is a staunch opponent of arms deliveries to Ukraine, without which the country would be defenceless against Russia’s aggression.

Orbán portrays himself as a “man of peace.” According to experts, a peace plan envisaged by Orbán would be entirely to Putin’s liking and would amount to Ukraine’s surrender.

In the Organization of Turkic States, Hungary holds observer status. Although Hungarian is not a Turkic language, Orbán seeks close ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who dominates the organization, and with the Central Asian autocracies that are part of it. (www.nannews.ng ) (dpa/NAN)