German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has acknowledged a significant disagreement with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over the conflict in Ukraine. He emphasized that any negotiations to resolve the conflict must include Ukraine.
Scholz made these remarks following an informal meeting of EU leaders in Budapest on Friday. He noted that the discussions, which centered on Ukraine, were “detailed and, incidentally, very passionate.”
The German chancellor acknowledged that not all EU members are united in their approach to the crisis. “I don’t want to hide the fact that there are different positions. You can see that publicly. The views expressed by the Hungarian prime minister here on this issue are not the same as those I represent or those of many other friends in Europe who are very committed to saying that it is a high priority to guarantee Ukraine the necessary support,” he stated.
Scholz stressed that Ukraine is the country “that has been attacked” and ultimately “belongs to the European Union and its values of democracy and the rule of law.”
The chancellor noted that there is “one principle on which almost everyone agrees… nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”. “It must continue to be this way. Negotiations cannot be conducted over Ukraine’s head,” he emphasized.
Orban has consistently criticized the EU’s support for Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev, while condemning Western sanctions against Russia as counterproductive. Following the US election, the Hungarian prime minister also suggested that President-elect Donald Trump, with whom he has established a close relationship, will withdraw Washington from the Ukraine conflict.
“[Ukraine’s] situation on the front line is obvious. It’s a military defeat. The Americans will get out of this war,” he suggested, adding that “Europe alone cannot finance this war.”
Trump’s anticipated return to the White House has caused significant anxiety in EU capitals, as the Republican has reportedly not made any commitments regarding continued US support for Kiev. According to a Bloomberg report, many EU leaders fear they will not be able to fund arms deliveries without US involvement.
Ahead of the November vote, Trump pledged to resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours if elected. According to media reports, possible plans could include the Trump administration pressuring Kiev to abandon its ambitions to join NATO and agreeing to the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
Moscow has repeatedly rejected the option of freezing the conflict but has stated that it is “open to contact and dialogue,” including with Trump, over settling the crisis.