Orban expects immediate Trump initiative on Ukraine war
Published: Thursday, Oct 31st 2024, 20:40
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If he wins the US election, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban is convinced that Donald Trump will immediately launch an initiative for a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, even without the Europeans. "We are preparing", Orban said after a telephone call with Trump at a discussion event in Vienna. Orban is considered one of Trump's most important European contacts. "They will sit down with the Russian president in no time and conduct negotiations," Orban continued, referring to a possible Trump administration team. The presidential election in the USA will take place on November 5.
The aim of the possible Russian-American negotiations will be to keep the conflict out of global politics as far as possible in future. The role of the EU in this is unclear. The EU has still not understood that the war is lost for Kiev, Orban said at an event on geopolitical issues organized by the Swiss weekly "Weltwoche", which was also attended by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
Support from former Chancellor Schröder
Schröder supported Orban in view of his recent trips to Kiev, Moscow, Beijing and the USA. Instead of criticizing Orban for this, as the EU has done, he deserves the important support of Germany and France, Schröder said. Trump was actually the one who wanted to make a contribution to ending the fighting. "That I would praise him again...", said Schröder, referring to the Republican.
However, negotiations at this point would not be about peace, but only about ending the dying through a ceasefire, Orban said.
Former chancellor maintains friendship with Putin
Schröder has been friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin since he was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005 and continues to work for the majority Russian-owned companies of the Nord Stream pipelines through the Baltic Sea. Although he has described the Russian attack on Ukraine as a mistake, he still maintains his friendship with Putin.
Orban has made no secret of his wish for Trump to win the election against Kamala Harris on November 5. He will pop the corks of the champagne bottles if the Republican is re-elected as US president, he said recently.
Trump's possible election victory is worrying many in the EU. This concerns, for example, cooperation within NATO and the question of whether Europe can rely on America's support in an emergency.
©Keystone/SDA
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