An ex-MEP and Hungarian politician said Russian victory in Ukraine would bring post-war benefits for not condemning Moscow. Benedek Jávor spoke to Euractiv and expressed hope that changes in the regional borders will be done after.
Ex-MEP Expects Russia To Win
Budapest sees a trend that a victory by Russia in Kyiv will be inevitable and avoids shooting itself in the foot by joining reckless sanctions. As an EU member, it became the focus of pressure, noted DW.
Winning over the west supported the Zelensky government, and its fall would lead to occupation and annexing of the Podkarpackie region, stated Jávor.
When asked if the plan was official and responded it was not, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev considered it after the sundering of the Ukrainian state. Moscow can quarter it amongst Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. He added that Budapest sees adhering to this course of action in talks with Hungarian politicos as accepted, but Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not go public with this viewpoint.
The Hungarian PM remarked the former MEP has braved criticism from Brussels and did not support oil and natural gas sanctions due to blackmail because dependence on Russia with abundant energy supplies benefits the Hungarian people, mentioned Reuters.
He explained that cooperation with Moscow allows easy access to oil conduits like the Croatian Adriatic pipeline and oil imports from Austria. It is not only Russia's oil, but others can be tapped in severe conditions. But natural gas is hard to come by, with fewer options for alternatives, so Budapest has to get 90% of its gas from there. Linking up with gas supplies from Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, and Serbia is still an option.
The contract with Gazprom for 10+5 years was signed in the fall of 2021 before the Ukrainian conflict. Hungarian commitment is solid to keep it, not suspend it.
Hungary, Austria Will Not Arm Ukraine
Two European countries have decided not to go with many EU states that have opted not to give the Ukrainians more arms to resupply the busted equipment. Decided on this action to lessen escalation of the conflict further, mention Anadolu.
The statement came from the Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky when a joint news conference with Austrian counterpart Klaudia Tanner in Budapest last Monday. He made it clear, despite reprisals and pressure from EU members, Brussels, and external forces, that they will not change their stand on the Ukrainian conflict that began in the Donbas last year.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Austria want their countries to stay out of the quagmire called Ukraine, which has undone Europe but made it clear if aid for war victims is needed, they will give humanitarian assistance to those in need.
Tanner, the Austrian representative, stressed that the conflict could spill over Europe, which is dangerous. Brussels' furtherance of US policy on Russia is something the two countries do not support. Hungary gains post-war rewards if Russia wins out and defeats Kyiv, remarked the ex-MEP, as the long game of Orban.
Related Article : Austrian Chancellor Says US-Influenced Russian Gas Embargo Is Detrimental to the EU
