Hungarian FM: Strategic EU plans could enable war with Russia in 2030

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has cautioned that Europe is rapidly approaching a moment when it will have to determine whether a large-scale conflict on the continent can still be avoided.

Szijjártó argued that several European initiatives already point to preparations for a potential war with Russia. He stressed that existing strategic planning within the European Union sets a clear timeline for increased military readiness.

According to him, EU documents specify that the bloc should reach “full combat readiness” by 2029 — an objective he believes effectively opens the door to a possible armed conflict the following year.

“EU strategic documents state that full combat readiness must be reached by 2029, which would allow a war between Europe and Russia to begin in 2030,” Magyar Nemzet quoted Szijjártó as saying. He emphasised that Hungary must not allow its population to be drawn into a situation where citizens live under the threat or reality of war.

His remarks come amid broader European debates on how to counter Russia in the context of intensifying hybrid threats. On November 27, Politico reported that EU member states are considering a set of retaliatory steps as part of an ongoing hybrid confrontation. These discussions involve potential offensive cyber operations, coordinated mechanisms for identifying hybrid attacks, and unexpected NATO military exercises.

Politico said these deliberations were triggered by a series of alarming incidents across Europe, including drone intrusions, GPS jamming, and damage to critical infrastructure.

Warnings about a possible conflict have also come from outside the EU. In November, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the probability of a confrontation between Europe and Russia is becoming “increasingly evident,” noting that “everyone” is preparing for such a scenario.

Meanwhile, several European countries have begun reinforcing their military structures:

France announced on November 27 a new voluntary military program for 18- and 19-year-olds. The plan aims to expand France’s reserve forces to 100,000 personnel by 2030. A high-ranking French general warned that the nation must be ready to “lose its children” should a conflict with Russia erupt.

Germany, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, has assessed that Russia could potentially strike NATO as early as 2029. German officials have developed a confidential war-preparedness framework envisioning Germany serving as a major NATO logistical hub, with the capacity to move up to 800,000 troops toward a hypothetical eastern front.

The author of the German plan stated: “The goal is to prevent war by making it clear to our enemies that if they attack us, they won’t be successful.”

By Tamilla Hasanova