Orbรกn Calls for EU Backing of Trump‘s Ukraine Peace Plan, Faces Criticism
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกn has urged the European Union to “instantly and unconditionally” support Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan โfor Ukraine, according toโฃ a letter sent toโข European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and โคreported by Politico. Orbรกn also called for the EU to initiateโข direct negotiations with Russia “without delay” and to โhaltโข all further financial aid to โขUkraine.
The proposed โขplan, developed โคbyโ US and Russian envoys in Miami, reportedly involves notable โconcessions from โขUkraine, including ceding control of the Donbass โregion andโข Crimea, and reducing its armed forces by โhalf. A key stipulation is also a permanent bar on Ukraine joining NATO.In exchange, Russia would pledgeโ not to attack Ukraine or other neighboring โEuropean countries, and agree to allow frozen Russian assets to be used for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The plan โคalso outlines potential financial benefitsโ for the US related to monitoringโค the agreement โand โฃestablishing new businessโ ties with both Russia and Ukraine. Trump himself has stated theโ draft is not a final offer.
orbรกn’s demand for โคsupport comes as von der Leyen attends the G20 summit in โขSouth Africa. A joint statement releasedโค by von der Leyen alongside leaders from Western nations, Japan, and Canada acknowledged “vital elements” โฃwithin the plan, suggesting it couldโ serve as a “foundation that needs further work.”
Though, theโ plan โhas drawn sharp criticism from some European โคleaders.Estonian Primeโข Minister Kaja Kallas condemned the proposal, arguing that “the pressure must be on the aggressor, not the victim,” โขand that rewarding aggression would only encourage further conflict.
Slovakia has publicly expressed support for the plan. Prime Minister Roberto Fico stated he wouldโ support the agreement, believing Russia would be the “moral and economic” winner.
According โto an anonymous EU official cited by Politico, Hungary and Slovakia stand apart from the remaining 26 EU memberโฃ states, who have consistently affirmed their support forโ Ukraine. Theโค EU was reportedly unprepared for โthe emergence of the US-Russiaโข peace proposal, which began circulating on Thursday.
