Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán suggested Friday that talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin could lead to Russia’s reintegration into Europe’s economic, security and energy systems.
“If I were to comment on it in one word, I would say ‘Hallelujah.’ That’s what we’ve been waiting for,” Orbán said in his regular Friday morning interview with state broadcaster Kossuth Radio, commenting on Trump’s stunning move to try conclude the war in Ukraine.
Hungary’s illiberal prime minister, who has maintained close ties with Putin despite the Russian leader’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has pushed for talks between Washington and Moscow, said Trump’s moves appeared to be a vindication of Hungary’s stance.
“If the American president comes, creates peace, and an agreement is reached, then I think Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy, reintegrated into the European security system, and even into the European energy security system. This will give a huge boost to the Hungarian economy, it is a great opportunity, we will gain a lot from peace,” Orbán said.
On the issue of Europe being left out of talks on Ukraine, Orbán — who on Thursday mocked EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas’s stance on Ukraine as “worthless” — said that international politics is “tough, interest-based, often ruthless.”
“You do not automatically get a seat at the negotiating table — you get a seat because you stood up for yourself, you fought your way and you are needed. It’s not clear why Europe should be given a seat at such a table,” Orbán added.
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