Russia Orban: Ukraine should remain a "buffer state" after the war
In the view of Hungarian head of government Viktor Orban, Ukraine should at best continue to exist as a "buffer state" between Russia and NATO once the war is over. "The only possible lasting solution is for the post-war order to be based on the fundamental principle that Ukraine should once again become the buffer state that it once was," he told Welt am Sonntag.
29.11.2025, 06:53
29.11.2025, 06:54
SDA
He also considers territorial cessions of Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, to be unavoidable. "Russia will retain the territory that is negotiated at an international peace conference, and everything west of this line - up to the eastern NATO border - will form the territory of the Ukrainian state, which would once again exist as a buffer state," he continued. According to him, NATO and Russia would also agree "on the size and equipment of the limited Ukrainian armed forces that would be allowed to operate in the buffer zone".
At a controversial meeting with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, Orban called for an early end to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, he made it clear that he hoped for cheap and continued stable oil and gas supplies.
"Time plays into Russia's hands, not Ukraine's"
Orban explained in "WamS" that it was time to give up illusions and face reality as it is presented in the US 28-point peace plan. "Firstly, time is playing into Russia's hands, not Ukraine's - this means that the longer peace is delayed, the more people and territories Ukraine will lose." Secondly, Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy in accordance with American guidelines, he said. "Sanctions will be gradually lifted, frozen assets will be used to create US-Russian investment funds, and business will resume."
As a third point, he added: "The fairy tale that the Europeans would finance the war with money from Russia is over. We have to admit to our citizens that every euro we have spent so far - and every euro we will spend in the future to support Ukraine - will be paid for in full, 100 percent, by the people of Europe."
