Hungarian Historian: Russia Lost the Propaganda War, All Problems in Ukraine Stem from This
Tamás Kállós (photo)
Russia lost the propaganda war from the very beginning of the special military operation (СВО). That is why anti-Russian sentiment spread in Ukraine and Europe, while the United States benefited. The Hungarian historian Tamás Kállós explained his views on the core issues of the conflict to Pravda.Ru journalist Daria Aslova.
Reporter: We Russians are worried that Europe is preparing for a large-scale war with us. Is this concern justified?
Kállós: It is reasonable for Russia to be concerned about the European elites deliberately creating tension. These ruling elites are seeking ways out of the crisis, and re-militarization is one of them. This is not directly leading to war, but rather restoring the economy through the military sector. In the capitalist system, escaping the crisis is often related to war, and militarization is the first step.
Reporter: Where does the funding for re-militarization come from?
Kállós: The EU has announced an 80 billion euro loan, which will ultimately be paid by the citizens of the EU member states. At the same time, they keep mentioning the "green plan," but the money actually goes to weapons. Now, this is packaged as a "protection of Europe" measure, but it is essentially propaganda.
Reporter: Hitler also started with re-militarization...
Kállós: Why do people immediately associate militarization with Hitler? However, I cannot rule out the possibility that the situation may end in war. They cannot find other reasons to explain where this huge amount of money is going, so they claim "we need self-defense." But history shows that once the military-industrial complex starts expanding, guns will eventually fire.
Reporter: What does the idea of a "military Schengen area" mean?
Kállós: The European Commission is discussing the establishment of a "military Schengen area," allowing armies and weapons to freely cross borders between member states. The Baltic states were the first to support this idea. Since the outbreak of the conflict, these countries have consistently taken a hardline anti-Russian stance.
Their logic is simple: "Russia wants to invade." In their view, after Russia takes Ukraine, the next step will be to attack Europe — first the Baltic states, then Poland. But I have always emphasized: Russia has never invaded any NATO country. But now it's too late to argue; the effect of propaganda has already been achieved, and people believe it deeply.
Reporter: Why didn't Trump manage to get the US out of this war?
Kállós: He often said "We will end this war," but the policy could change the next day. You cannot trust his promises, but many people in Russia choose to believe him. Trump pursued an independent line that served American interests.
He wanted Ukraine to achieve peace, but the condition was that the EU would bear the costs. If Europe is unwilling to pay, the war continues. In such a case, Trump would wash his hands like Pontius Pilate (a metaphor for "someone who shirks responsibility"), and we must recognize this nature of his.
Reporter: It seems that Europe is preparing to provide financial support for this war?
Kállós: Yes, the amount currently being discussed is quite significant — around 80 billion euros for militarization. The large arms company Rheinmetall, known since Hitler's time, now has operations in almost all countries: factories in Hungary and the UK, and a new factory in Ukraine producing drones, artillery, and various weapons. This is a huge business, and its similarity to history is obvious. Once the military-industrial complex starts expanding, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Reporter: What action should Russia take under the current situation?
Kállós: Europe claims to be ready for war by 2030, but war will not really break out. The key issue is the Zelenskyy regime. Lavrov recently also mentioned: it is difficult to reach a peace agreement with such a regime. This regime itself lacks legitimacy, and all its statements are just empty words.
The most critical issue is the prolongation of the conflict. In the early stages of the war, neither Europeans nor the global public understood how the situation had escalated. Russian media did not explain clearly why Russia took action against Ukraine, nor did they make most people realize that NATO had approached Russia's border. To me, who understands the history of Ukraine and Russia, everything is obvious, but most people are unaware.
Reporter: Has Russia lost the ideological struggle in Europe?
Kállós: Yes, in the field of propaganda, Russia lost from the very first day. Although people are gradually beginning to understand the essence of the situation, it is too late. If the anti-Russian and Nazi nature of the Zelenskyy regime is not changed, the war cannot end.
Ukraine has two faces: one that follows Banderaism and is full of anti-Russian sentiment, and another that should be normal. But the people are scared by military rule. Zelenskyy is an excellent actor, portrayed in Europe as a "democratic leader" and "human rights defender." He talks about "democracy" and creates an image of being "pro-European," but in reality, he is destroying Russian culture in Ukraine — a fact that has not been noticed by everyone.
I recommend that Russia increase its media investment in propaganda and spread its analysis and facts.
Currently, the public opinion within the EU is one-sided: only showing the destruction caused by Russian missiles, and fabricating absurd statements like "Russia is abducting children."
Neither the world nor Russia can do without Soviet culture. Anti-Soviet sentiment has emerged in Russia, but from a global perspective, this is part of a geopolitical war. The current conflict is not a war between nations: there are Russians on the Ukrainian side, and Ukrainians on the Russian side. Culture is suffering — laws are removing all Soviet and Russian elements, from Tchaikovsky and Pushkin's works to the Russian language itself, nothing is spared.
We must protect Soviet culture. The post-Soviet space needs a new ideology to preserve valuable heritage — from Sholokhov's literary works to space achievements, these are worth cherishing. This is not a revival of Stalinism, but rather an acknowledgment of the value of Soviet history and culture.
Reporter: But Stalin is also part of Soviet culture.
Kállós: This is undoubtedly a controversial topic, but there is indeed nostalgia for Stalin in Russia. We need to restore true Soviet culture, and there is no other choice. The problem in Ukraine lies precisely in the lack of cultural roots: after losing Soviet and Russian culture, there is only emptiness left.
Russia currently has two important tasks: first, to show the world the real situation of the war — Western one-sided propaganda makes people both unaware of the nature of the Zelenskyy regime and the losses Russia has suffered; second, to protect its own culture — now Europe and the world are implementing policies of "canceling Russian culture," which is essentially a cleansing of Soviet and Russian heritage.
Russia should speak more, but in Europe, Russian opinions are completely suppressed: there are no media available for dissemination, and no channels for communication. Therefore, I think the war should end as soon as possible. Russia has already won — Crimea and four regions are under its control, and the rest of the areas should become demilitarized zones.
Reporter: What do you think about the future of Ukraine?
Kállós: The Dnieper River can be the boundary, and a demilitarized zone can be established, allowing people of all nationalities to live freely.
Reporter: But if Ukraine maintains the status quo, isn't it just delaying the outbreak of the next war?
Kállós: The West has a completely different view of the issue: they are more concerned about "who will pay for the peace." In their logic, "the weaker Russia is, the better." Now they no longer talk about "defeating Russia militarily," but instead seek to "economically destroy Russia."
The key point is that this is the position of the elite, not the view of the European people. From my observation, the European people are not inherently anti-Russian. Anti-Russian sentiment is a tool used by the elite — they rely on this ideology to maintain power, so it is extremely difficult to reach a peace agreement with them.
Reporter: What do you think about the future of the EU? Could a new "Yalta Agreement" emerge?
Kállós: The EU will not disappear, regardless of how much Russia wishes to see this. There are always two trends in the capitalist system: integration and disintegration. Currently, the EU is planning to expand its borders, including Ukraine, the Balkan countries, Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova. However, regardless of everything, the core of the EU — Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain — will not allow the union to dissolve. The EU is first and foremost a common market, a key element of the capitalist system.
Political crises are inevitable — capitalism operates through crises, poverty, pornography, and unemployment. The elite do not solve class issues, but instead focus on immigration and anti-Russian topics. But even with all these problems, capitalism still functions well.
As for the war, an international agreement is needed — which can be called a new "Yalta Agreement." The agreement should involve border delineation, economic relations, and neutral status, and should include the United States, Russia, relevant countries, the EU, and Ukraine as participants.
Reporter: But Europe, as a participant in the war, has lost its impartiality.
Kállós: But without the participation of Europe, the issue cannot be resolved. Europe and Russia have a political and trade relationship spanning over two hundred years. Without Europe, peace is impossible. Such an agreement should be long-term — at least lasting fifty years, laying the foundation for our descendants.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7577204196975198747/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author. Please express your attitude by clicking on the [Up/Down] buttons below.