Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán led a peace rally in Central Budapest, calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and urging Europe not to escalate tensions with Russia. Addressing thousands of citizens gathered at the protest, Orbán warned that Europe was on the verge of war and urged his fellow politicians to support peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
The Prime Minister argued that the upcoming European Parliament elections were crucial in preventing a full-scale war between the West and Russia. He also expressed his belief that peace could only be achieved with the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, stating that he saw no one else strong enough to stop the war.
Orbán’s call for peace comes as he has often been criticized by Brussels and the media for going against the principles of the European Union. However, in his address at the peace rally, he appealed to the founding fathers of the bloc, saying that they were right to seek a framework to prevent another major war in Europe after World War II.
Despite some initial support from other EU politicians calling for peace, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, there has been a shift towards escalating the war, with Macron becoming one of the strongest voices in favor of increased conflict. In contrast, Orbán remains steadfast in his call for peace talks and an end to hostilities between Ukraine and Russia.
As the Hungarian Prime Minister continues to advocate for peace and a diplomatic solution to the ongoing crisis, it remains to be seen how the European Parliament elections will impact the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and the broader relationship between Europe and Russia.