Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sparked controversy within the European Union by advocating for Donald Trump’s detailed plans to broker peace in Ukraine. As the current rotating president of the EU, Orban sent a letter to EU leaders, emphasizing Trump’s readiness to act immediately upon winning the election.
Orban’s letter, addressed to European Council President Charles Michel, comes after his meetings with Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In the letter, Orban asserted, “He [Trump] will be ready to act as a peace broker immediately. He has detailed and well-founded plans for this.”
The letter indicates that Orban believes Trump’s peace proposals are more than just campaign promises. Following his meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Orban expressed confidence in Trump’s commitment to ending the Ukraine conflict swiftly.
This development has intensified tensions within the EU, particularly among Liberal-Globalist leaders who oppose Hungary’s current EU presidency. Despite efforts to boycott meetings called by Hungary, Orban remains undeterred, advocating for a diplomatic solution.
The Guardian reported that Orban’s letter suggested a Trump victory would necessitate reopening diplomatic communications with Russia and initiating high-level political discussions with China. Orban warned that if Trump wins, the financial burden of supporting Ukraine would shift more heavily onto the EU.
“I am more than convinced that in the likely outcome of the victory of President Trump, the proportion of the financial burden between the US and the EU will significantly change to the EU’s disadvantage when it comes to the financial support of Ukraine,” Orban wrote.
Orban also conveyed insights from his recent talks with Putin, Xi, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He noted a general expectation that the conflict’s intensity will escalate in the near future.
In response to the leaked letter, the European Commission president’s spokesperson announced that the EU Commission would only send senior civil servants to meetings called by Orban. Additionally, some EU member states have decided to send lower-level officials to Hungary for EU events.
Orban’s political director, Balázs Orban, reiterated the prime minister’s message on social media, urging Europe to adopt a strategy focused on ceasefire and peace negotiations rather than mirroring the US’s pro-war stance. He stressed the importance of using Hungary’s EU presidency to set the stage for peace talks.
This move by Orban highlights the significant divisions within the EU regarding the Ukraine conflict and reflects his determination to support Trump’s diplomatic efforts.
