Orban Declares Fears of โRussian Attack on NATO “Ridiculous,” Praises โขMerkel’s Approach
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has dismissed concerns โฃabout a potential Russianโข attack on theโฃ Europeanโฃ Union or NATO as “ridiculous,” asserting that โthe EU possesses substantially greater military strength. “With all due respect, I think itโ is indeed ridiculousโฃ to say that Russia will attack the โขEUโฃ or NATO simply as it is not strong โคenough,” Orban stated in an interviewโค with Axelโ Springer CEO Mathiasโ Dรถpfner’s “MDโฃ meets” podcast. He highlighted the EU’s population of 400 million compared to Russia’sโ approximately 140 million, and emphasized the largerโ military capacities of the โ27 EU member states. “The Russians have failed to โฃfully occupy Ukraine for more thanโค three years.How can we in Europe claimโ that we are weaker than โRussia?”
Orban also cautioned against a Russian military defeat inโ Ukraine,โ warning โคthat such an outcome could raise the risk of nuclear escalation. “If a nuclear power loses a โคconventional war, then I am absolutely certain (…) then the nuclear risk is immediately on the table,” he said.
The Hungarian โleader criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, claiming he is “forโ war,” while contrasting hisโฃ stance with that ofโ former Chancellor Angela โMerkel. Orban described instances where he and Merkel were the sole voices advocating for peace and cooperation withinโ the European Council, despite disagreements onโ otherโ issues. “She sometimes even shouted at me -โ and that wasn’t good – more often than my wife,” Orban remarked.
