Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, currently holding the EU’s rotating presidency, has urged European leaders to consider Donald Trump’s detailed plans to broker peace in Ukraine. Orban’s letter to EU officials and national leaders underscores Trump’s readiness to act immediately upon election victory, presenting his proposals as comprehensive and actionable.
Addressed to European Council President Charles Michel and shared with all EU leaders, the letter follows Orban’s meetings with Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Orban asserted, “Shortly after his election victory, [Trump] will be ready to act as a peace broker immediately.”
Orban’s endorsement of Trump’s plans comes after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago, where Orban became convinced of Trump’s commitment to resolving the conflict. The letter emphasizes that Trump’s peace plans are not just campaign promises but are well-founded and practical.
This move has intensified tensions within the EU, particularly among leaders critical of Hungary’s current EU leadership. Despite boycotts and reduced participation in Hungary’s EU presidency meetings, Orban continues to push for a diplomatic solution.
According to The Guardian, Orban’s letter suggested that a Trump victory would require the EU to reopen diplomatic lines with Russia and initiate high-level talks with China.
Orban warned that if Trump wins, the financial burden of supporting Ukraine would shift more onto the EU.
“I am more than convinced that in the likely outcome of the victory of President Trump, the proportion of the financial burden between the US and the EU will significantly change to the EU’s disadvantage when it comes to the financial support of Ukraine,” Orban wrote.
Orban also recounted insights from his talks with Putin, Xi, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He noted a general expectation that the conflict’s intensity will escalate in the near future.
In response to the leaked letter, the European Commission president’s spokesperson announced that the EU Commission would only send senior civil servants to meetings called by Orban. Additionally, some EU member states have chosen to send lower-level officials to events in Hungary.
Orban’s political director, Balázs Orban, reinforced the prime minister’s stance on social media, urging Europe to adopt a strategy focused on ceasefire and peace negotiations rather than following the US’s pro-war policies. He stressed the importance of using Hungary’s EU presidency to set the stage for peace talks.
Orban’s push for Trump’s peace plans highlights significant divisions within the EU regarding the Ukraine conflict and reflects his determination to pursue a diplomatic resolution through Trump’s proposed strategies.
