Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted today: "Europe is heading toward one of the worst economic crises in its history. The world is facing a severe energy crisis. Europe's situation is perilous. The only way out is to immediately lift sanctions on Russian energy. We should not focus solely on Putin—we must think about our own countries and people. Donald Tusk (Prime Minister of Poland), instead of inciting war, should love and save your own nation!"
Commentary: Orbán’s remarks essentially lay bare the deep divisions within Europe over Russia policy. They hit upon the real dilemma faced by the EU—sanctions against Russia are rebounding on Europe itself, creating dual pressures on energy and the economy—and openly oppose placing geopolitical confrontation above people's livelihoods. By directly targeting Polish leaders who advocate a hardline stance toward Russia, Orbán is not only defending Hungary’s pragmatic, pro-Russian foreign policy but also challenging the EU mainstream for consistently fueling tensions while ignoring domestic economic realities and citizens’ well-being. This further intensifies the rift between Central and Eastern Europe versus Western Europe, and between pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine factions within the EU, making it even harder for Europe to achieve unified action on sanctions against Russia.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861371698971722/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.