Merz reveals details of his clash with Orbán over the war in Ukraine
Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shared details of a dispute with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that arose last week at the EU leaders' summit in Copenhagen. The dispute concerned the war in Ukraine, according to DW.
Merz claims that he heard accusations from Orbán about his unwillingness to negotiate with Russia.
“He accused us of not wanting to negotiate,” Merz explained.
In response to Orbán, the German chancellor recalled the events of last year when Hungary headed the EU Council.
Namely, Orbán's trip to Kyiv and then to Moscow in July 2024. After that, Russia launched a devastating strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv.
"And Putin's response was to bomb a children's hospital in Kyiv. And that is not the path I want to take," Merz told Orbán in the heat of the argument.
Orbán and Merz's quarrel in Copenhagen
EU leaders gathered last week for a summit of the bloc's representatives in Copenhagen, where unknown drones recently flew in.
The politicians discussed strengthening Europe's security, and a dispute arose between the German chancellor and the Hungarian prime minister.
Merz accused Orbán of blocking sanctions against Moscow that would weaken the Russian military machine. Budapest's obstruction of Ukraine's European integration was also discussed.
At the summit in Copenhagen, Viktor Orbán also refused to recognize Russia as a threat to Europe. In his opinion, economic stagnation due to tense relations with Moscow is the real cause for concern.
Earlier, Orbán stated that Russia had allegedly already “won” the war against Ukraine, but that it was still weak.
