14th July 2023 – (Budapest) Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that inviting Ukraine to join NATO would have sparked a global war, suggesting the alliance was right to refrain from offering membership at its 2008 summit.
In an interview on Friday, Orban argued that accepting Ukraine into NATO back then would have meant “immediate world war”. He portrayed the decision as avoiding a dangerous escalation of tensions between Russia and the West.
The conservative Hungarian leader also lamented that belligerent attitudes in favor of prolonging the conflict in Ukraine still dominate thinking across Western nations.
“Residents of Western countries want the war,” Orban claimed, accusing Ukrainians of aggression in constantly demanding benefits for themselves.
Given these dynamics, he predicted the fighting in Hungary’s eastern neighbour could continue for some time. Orban said his government should prepare for a protracted conflict.
Hungary has emerged as one of the EU states most reluctant toisolate Russia diplomatically and economically over the invasion of Ukraine. Orban stresses the need to safeguard his country’s close trading ties with Moscow. The prime minister’s stance has caused tensions with allies who want tougher action against the Kremlin’s aggression. Critics accuse him of parroting Russian propaganda narratives blaming the West for the war.