Brussels: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has informed EU leaders in a letter that U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands ready to immediately broker peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict if elected in November.
Orban’s letter, addressed to European Council President Charles Michel and circulated among all EU leaders, follows talks Orban held with Trump, as well as leaders from Ukraine, Russia, and China in recent weeks. In the letter, Orban asserts, “I can (…) surely state that shortly after his election victory, he will not wait until his inauguration, (Trump) will be ready to act as a peace broker immediately. He has detailed and well-founded plans for this.”
Known for his nationalist stance and longstanding support for Trump, Orban embarked on what he termed a “peace mission” after Hungary assumed the EU’s rotating presidency. However, his unauthorized diplomacy drew swift condemnation from EU leaders, who emphasized that Orban lacked the mandate to speak on behalf of the 27-nation bloc, stressing that his views were personal.
In response to Hungary’s rogue diplomacy, the European Commission took the unprecedented step of barring EU Commissioners from attending meetings held in Hungary under its presidency. Some EU member states have also indicated plans to send only senior civil servants rather than government ministers to future talks in Hungary, and a group of 63 European Parliament lawmakers has called for Hungary’s voting rights within the EU to be reconsidered.
Orban’s letter also touched on the U.S. presidential race, noting President Joe Biden’s efforts to remain competitive. Orban suggested that Biden might not alter current U.S. policies favoring Ukraine, contrasting sharply with his critique of European military support for Ukraine, which he believes mirrors U.S. pro-war policies.
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“If Trump wins, the financial burden between the U.S. and the EU regarding support for Ukraine would shift to the disadvantage of Europeans,” Orban stated, advocating for a re-evaluation of Europe’s alignment with U.S. policy. He proposed reopening direct diplomatic channels with Russia, maintaining dialogue with Kyiv, and engaging China on organizing future peace conferences.
Orban’s proposals stand in contrast to the EU’s recent reaffirmation of unwavering support for Ukraine, encompassing political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic aid. The EU reiterated its commitment “as long as it takes and as intensely as needed” during its latest summit on June 27.
