Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that the Western Balkans should be a priority of the European Union in terms of expansion, while he specifically mentioned the case of Serbia. Orban in the conversation with former Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, which was broadcast on "Presse am Sonntag", the Hungarian leader also spoke about Ukraine. He estimated that in 2008 the opportunity for Ukraine to join NATO was lost
The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, has said that the inclusion of the Western Balkans should be a priority for the European Union.
In a conversation with former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, which was broadcast by "Presse am Sonntag", Orban mentioned Serbia in particular. Orban is known for his good relations with Serbia and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
"We have to finish the old enlargement task before we start the new enlargement with Ukraine. If we do not integrate Serbia as soon as possible, we will lose it. Serbia has other options. A free trade agreement with China has just been concluded," Orban said.
Meanwhile, Orban was asked about Ukraine. He said that "the case for Ukraine to join NATO was released 16 years ago".
He said that until 2008, Russia was much weaker, but member states did not accept it.
"However, this opportunity was not used at the NATO Summit in Bucharest. We failed to successfully complete the negotiations for the accession of Ukraine and Georgia, which means that the perspective of Ukraine as a future member of the EU and NATO was lost," Orban said.
Orban has said that the only option for Ukraine now "is to be a neutral zone between Russia and the West".
"If this does not succeed, then Ukraine will lose its land. The Russians will destroy Ukraine over and over," said Orban.
Orban has also shown how he noticed that Russia was preparing the invasion of Ukraine.
"I hadn't expected it for a long time. But two weeks before the war broke out I was in Moscow and had the feeling that an invasion was possible. After my visit, I reported my impressions to the NATO secretary general and told him that we are in trouble because the Russians feel that sooner or later they will have to resolve the conflict with Ukraine by force if Ukraine wants to join. in NATO", said Orban.
He said that "Hungary will do its best to at least reach a ceasefire and create a situation that we can negotiate".
Asked to compare the war in Ukraine with the Hungarian uprising of 1956, Orban said that "Ukraine is not protecting Europe".
"They are not defending Europe, unlike Hungary at the time. Ukraine does not offer us Europeans any additional security because most of us are already members of NATO, which is much stronger than Russia. There is no risk of Russia attacking a NATO member."
Orban also spoke about the EU elections that are held this year.
"We must return the previous system, where national parliaments sent their representatives to the European Parliament, instead of holding direct elections."
Orban has called the current European Parliament "madness".