Photo from Viktor Orban’s Facebook page
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that the European Union should review sanctions against Russia and significantly reduce bureaucracy, which, according to him, is a serious blow to the continent’s economy. Orban said this during an interview on Hungarian radio Kossuth, EFE reports .
Sanctions against Russia are under criticism
Orban stressed that high energy prices undermine the competitiveness of the European economy, and he sees a revision of the sanctions policy as the only solution to this crisis.
“Energy prices need to be reduced, and sanctions should be reviewed to achieve this,” the Hungarian prime minister said.
He also stressed that the sanctions harm not only Russia, but also Europe itself, especially countries dependent on Russian energy resources. Hungary, which imports 65% of its oil and 85% of its gas from Russia, has consistently opposed the EU’s restrictive measures.
Orban did not hold back his criticism of the European bureaucracy, which he considers to be one of the main factors behind the economic downturn.
“Idiotic rules are killing the economy, ” the Prime Minister added.
He reminded that last week a new Pact for Competitiveness was adopted in Budapest, which includes measures to reduce the bureaucratic burden on business.
Financing Ukraine and the role of the United States
In his statement, Orban also touched upon the topic of financing Ukraine, noting that without US support, the EU would not be able to continue to provide significant financial assistance to Kyiv.
“If the United States stops supporting Ukraine, the EU will not be able to finance Kyiv, and this will destroy our economy,” the Hungarian leader warned.
A call for peace and support for Donald Trump
At the same time, Orban expressed hope that US President-elect Donald Trump would focus on a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
“The Democratic administration should not increase support for the war, but should support Donald Trump’s peace initiatives,” Orban said.
The Hungarian prime minister, who has long supported Trump, hopes for a change in Washington’s policy that he believes could lead to an end to the war.
