Viktor Orban: Ukraine war's end could come sooner than expected

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has forecast that the ongoing war in Ukraine will come to an end by 2025, outlining two potential outcomes: either peace talks between the warring sides or the "annihilation" of one of the parties.

In remarks to Hungarian media, Orban emphasized that 2025 would be a pivotal year not just for Ukraine, but for the world as a whole, which he believes could emerge from the conflict and return to economic growth, Caliber.Az reports.

He suggested that Hungary is preparing for an economic resurgence once the war concludes, saying, "We are ready, and we will take off in 2025. Instead of the politics of war, the politics of peaceful years will return and we will have great economic success again."

Orban also criticized the scale of military aid provided to Ukraine by its Western allies, especially the US and Europe, which have spent around 300 billion euros on the war. He argued that this money could have been better spent on improving living standards, addressing migration, and creating a stronger European defence system.

The Hungarian prime minister did not shy away from discussing the devastating consequences of the conflict, particularly for Ukraine, where infrastructure has been destroyed, millions have fled, and the country has suffered significant demographic losses. He expressed doubt that Ukraine would be able to recover its economic capacity in the near future.

In a bold statement, Orban also declared that "Europe has lost" the war in Ukraine, despite efforts by politicians to deny this reality. He pointed to Russia's steady territorial gains, describing the conflict as one where the EU has failed. "This war the EU has lost," Orban said, adding that Russian forces are slowly grinding forward and advancing.

The Hungarian prime minister also noted that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine was nearly reached in April 2022, only for Western powers to intervene and block the deal. "Now, politicians are trying to apply all sorts of communication tricks," he remarked.

In response to Orban's statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to continuing its "special military operation" in Ukraine until all of its objectives are achieved.

Orban's comments come amid ongoing debates over the trajectory of the war, with many in the West hopeful that Ukrainian forces can eventually halt Russia's advances. However, Orban and other critics argue that the situation on the front lines increasingly favours Moscow.

By Tamilla Hasanova