“We are approaching war”: Orban on the future of Europe’s security
24 December 19:41
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he does not rule out the possibility of war in Europe in 2026. He said this in an interview with the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, according to Yevropeiska Pravda, [Komersant].
When asked by a journalist whether 2025 could be the last year of peace in Europe, Orban answered in the affirmative:
“Yes, this cannot be ruled out.”
What are Orban’s arguments?
The head of the Hungarian government reminded that the last major war in Europe ended in 1945, and about 80 years have passed since then. According to him, the threat of nuclear war has been a deterrent for decades.
However, according to Orban, this balance is changing:
- there is a redistribution of financial, military and political power;
- military tensions are growing in Europe, which he attributes to the “decline of Western Europe and the European Union.”
Orban claims that the continent is “approaching war”
Orban claims that the continent is “approaching war,” but Hungary is trying to counteract this, he said. He said that during recent discussions in Brussels, Budapest managed to “slow down” the escalation process.
This refers, in particular, to the lack of agreement in the EU on the so-called “reparations loan” for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.
“Today in Europe there are two camps: supporters of war and supporters of peace. Currently, the pro-war forces have an advantage. Brussels wants war, Hungary wants peace,” the prime minister said.
European Council approves loan to Ukraine
The European Council has approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine for 2026-2027, to be financed by EU borrowing on the capital markets and guaranteed by the Union’s budget reserves. However, EU leaders failed to agree on the use of frozen Russian assets for a separate “reparations loan.”
