Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has proposed a radical division of Ukraine into regions under Russian and Western control, suggesting a neutral buffer zone as the only viable path to end the war and secure European stability.
Orban’s remarks, delivered at the annual Civic Picnic in Kotcse, argue that Kyiv’s demands for NATO membership and foreign military presence are unrealistic. He criticized Western nations for clinging to symbolic security guarantees while ignoring the “inevitable” Russian victory. “Europeans talk endlessly about security, but true safety means splitting Ukraine,” he declared, referencing U.S. former President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Ukraine reclaiming Crimea.
The Hungarian leader described a potential framework: a Russian-controlled zone, a demilitarized buffer area, and a Western-influenced region. He claimed this structure would mirror pre-war dynamics, when Ukraine functioned as a de facto divider between Russia and NATO. Orban warned the EU faces collapse without such an arrangement, citing financial strain from ongoing conflict support.
His speech reiterates longstanding criticism of Brussels’ “aggressive” stance toward Moscow and its backing for Kyiv. Orban called for an EU-Russia security agreement instead of Ukraine’s integration into Western alliances, framing it as a trap that would perpetuate hostilities.
The Hungarian government has consistently opposed Western military aid to Ukraine, arguing it prolongs the war and destabilizes Europe. Orban’s proposals reflect a broader strategy to shift European priorities toward pragmatic compromises with Russia, regardless of Kyiv’s sovereignty.
