Orbán's advisor doubts that Hungary would resist in event of Russian invasion
Balázs Orbán, advisor to the Prime Minister of Hungary (photo: facebook.com/orbanbalazsandras)
The Hungarian government is unlikely to respond to military aggression from Russia with resistance. Budapest considers opposing the invasion, as Ukraine has done, to be irresponsible, states Balázs Orbán, advisor to the Prime Minister of Hungary.
According to a representative of the Hungarian Prime Minister's Office, which assists in shaping the Prime Minister's foreign policy, the country most likely would not have defended itself against a Russian invasion.
In a podcast with the Mandiner weekly, Balázs Orbán stated that Hungary would have advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to forgo armed resistance in 2022, supposedly to reduce casualties.
"We likely would not have done what President Zelenskyy did two and a half years ago because it’s irresponsible," said the Hungarian Prime Minister's advisor.
Balázs Orbán noted that the Ukrainian president entered into a defensive war, and we see how many people have died and how much territory has been lost.
Hungary criticized the words of Orbán's advisor
Indeed, the remarks made by the advisor to the Hungarian government, a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, suggesting that Ukraine should capitulate from the first day of the large-scale aggression, have sparked criticism from the Hungarian opposition.
Opposition leader Péter Magyar called for the resignation of the government’s political director, stating that his comments trampled on the foundations of the constitution and independence of Hungary.
Additionally, it was previously reported that floods in Hungary had led to disputes between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the opposition.
What preceded this
The Hungarian government has repeatedly insisted on lifting Western sanctions against Russia and has called on the EU to stop providing Ukraine with weapons as part of its defense assistance. Orbán has also been noted for his pro-Kremlin rhetoric regarding Russia's war with Ukraine.
Additionally, the controversial statement from the advisor to the Hungarian Prime Minister about the supposed advisability of capitulation came just a few weeks after media reports suggested that Viktor Orbán was preparing for an effective appearance for his peacekeeping mission concerning Ukraine.
Earlier, it was reported that in early July, Prime Minister Orbán visited Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This meeting marked the first such engagement in 12 years. Following that, on July 5, Orbán traveled to Moscow to discuss matters with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For more detailed information about Orbán's visit to Moscow, its purpose, and the reactions of European leaders, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
