Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Empathizes With Russia’s Geopolitical Concerns, Still Rejects Its Military Action in Ukraine

In an interview with Swiss newspaper Die Weltwoche, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that he understands Russia President Vladimir Putin’s arguments about invading Ukraine but still does not agree with Putin’s course of action. Orban added that the West must find a way to peacefully coexist with Russia irrespective of the
Orban revealed that he discussed international security matters with Putin during a meeting back in February 2022. Per the Hungarian Prime Minister, the Russian president told him at the meeting that “Hungary’s membership in NATO is not a problem, only Ukraine’s and Georgia’s.”
“Putin’s problem is the US missile bases, already created in Romania and Poland, as well as the potential expansion of NATO to Ukraine and Georgia, with subsequent deployment of weapons there. In addition, the Americans cancelled important disarmament treaties. This is why Putin could no longer sleep well at night,” Orban proclaimed. “I understand what Putin said, but I reject what he did,” he continued.
Orban also observed that Russia sees things differently from the Collective West due to how it “ is a different civilization.” That said, “it matters not if the West likes it or not,” Orban noted. He highlighted that the Collective West power must find a way to coexist peacefully with a nuclear power such as Russia.
Orban is on the mark here. One can disagree with Russia’s actions but recognize that it had valid security concerns with regards to NATO expansion. Plus, Russia is a nuclear power so it can’t just be bullied around like other countries. Such considerations are never really factored in by Western policymakers. These people are entranced by universalist ideologies and can’t seem to wrap their heads around the fact that other countries have interests that often clash with the interventionist crowd in DC, Brussels, and London.
If Westerners can’t even bother to exercise some degree of strategic humility, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening throughout the 21st century.
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