Ukraine conflict will continue as long as the US wants it to: Hungarian PM

Budapest/Brussels: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Ukraine would fight the war till the United States continues to provide arms and money. Therefore, the time to end the war and establish peace depends on the US. The Hungarian Prime Minister has been accused and criticised by Europe for adopting a pro-Russian stand. However, in an interview, Prime Minister Orban clarified that he is not supporting Russia; rather, he is taking a position in the interest of the Hungarian people. The European Union has sharply criticised Hungary and decided to withhold the 22 billion euros in cohesion funds which were to be given to this country.

The Hungarian Prime Minister has warned that supplying arms and funding the war in Ukraine is dangerous for European countries. He has expressed deep concern that the US has been financing war and using Ukraine as a front for anti-Russia operations. Hungary has insisted on the right of refusal to withhold funds and other assistance to be provided by the European Union to Ukraine for the war against Russia. Due to this, the European countries that are against Russia have strongly criticised Hungary. European countries and media have started accusing Hungary’s Prime Minister of being pro-Russian.

In an interview with a news agency, Prime Minister Orban responded to this objection by stating that he is not on the Russian side; rather, he stands for the Hungarian people. Prime Minister Orban warned that it is in the interest of Hungary and European countries to stop the war in Ukraine immediately. He had also warned earlier that the European countries were hurting themselves by boycotting Russian fuel. The United States is using Ukraine for its anti-Russian tactics, and Orban is constantly sending a reminder that the interests of European countries, including Ukraine, are under threat. Orban criticised the US as the effects of the war in Ukraine are not felt by the United States but are adversely affecting the European countries. However, the European countries are not ready to take cognisance of this.

In a recent interview with a newspaper, Orban struck the same tone. Prime Minister Viktor Orban pointed out that the weapons and money provided to Ukraine by the United States are the most important factors in sustaining the ongoing war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Orban’s opposition to the war in Ukraine is not only verbal, but Hungary has blocked aid to Ukraine by using its veto power at European Union meetings. This has had severe repercussions. In retaliation, the European Union has withheld 22 billion Euros of cohesion funds provided to Hungary. The bloc explained that this decision was taken due to non-performance on the human rights front.

The European Union has blocked the 22-billion-euro fund to Hungary by alleging that ‘In Hungary, intellectuals are not given freedom. Hungary’s policy of not providing asylum to refugees is against the policy of the European Union. Also, at the social level, it is imposing wrong policies that limit Ukraine’s independence.’

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