Hungarian PM: Ukraine Conflict Risks Becoming EU’s Afghanistan
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that the war in Ukraine could evolve into the European Union’s equivalent of Afghanistan, becoming a prolonged and costly engagement with no clear resolution. Speaking at a media event in Dubai, Orbán emphasized the substantial financial support the EU has allocated to Ukraine since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Orbán referenced the hundreds of billions of euros provided in aid to Ukraine, suggesting that, in the absence of a diplomatic resolution, the war could become an enduring crisis for the EU. He specifically highlighted the United States’ prolonged involvement in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2001 until 2021, as a precedent for long-term military entanglements with no definitive exit strategy.
«Endless war, endless conflict, no way out of the conflict, consuming energy, human lives, money, and everything,» Orbán said.
He added that the war could significantly disrupt normal life in the EU, posing a serious challenge to the region.
Orbán is among the few European leaders maintaining diplomatic relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the interview, he reiterated the assertion that Russia initiated its military operation in Ukraine to prevent the country from joining NATO—an argument frequently made by the Kremlin.
Addressing criticisms that he aligns closely with Russia, Orbán rejected such claims.
«I’m not a pro-Putin man, I’m a pro-Hungarian guy,» he stated.
Orbán further commented on the ongoing war, suggesting that a key challenge remains in negotiating a resolution while Russia maintains a strong position.
«The difficulty is … how to convince the Russians to stop the war while the Russians are basically winning,» Orbán noted.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates within the EU regarding the financial and military support provided to Ukraine, as well as the broader implications of a prolonged conflict for European security and stability.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the EU and its member states have collectively committed approximately €267 bn in aid to Ukraine over the past three years, averaging more than €80 bn annually.
Of this total, around €130 bn (49%) has been allocated for military assistance, €118 bn (44%) for financial support, and €19 bn (7%) for humanitarian aid. This substantial allocation underscores the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.
