Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said today that Ukraine cannot win the war with Russia and called for talks with Moscow to end the conflict.

The nationalist leader, who is refusing military aid to neighboring Ukraine, has reiterated his calls for a ceasefire.

“It is clear that a military solution is not moving forward,” he said from Qatar, where he attended an economic forum, assessing that the Russian invasion in 2022 is the result of a “failure of diplomacy.”

Just completed a three day visit to #Qatar . We agreed with HH @TamimBinHamad establish strategic cooperation between 🇭🇺 and 🇶🇦. Today I talked about this and much more on @QatarEconForum . pic.twitter.com/AUUkOUC7ru

— Viktor Orban (@PM_ViktorOrban) May 23, 2023

“If you look at reality, at the numbers, at the context and at the fact that NATO is not ready to send troops, then it is obvious that there will be no victory for the Ukrainians on the battlefield. This is my position,” Orban said.

The Hungarian prime minister, who maintains ties with the Kremlin, did not visit Kyiv.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, confirmed today that Hungary refuses to provide Ukraine with a new military aid package.

According to Orban, a new European security agreement should be concluded with Moscow after the ceasefire. “As a state, Ukraine is, of course, very important, but in the long term, from a strategic point of view, the future security of Europe is at stake,” the Hungarian Prime Minister said.

“It is clear that without the United States there is no security architecture for Europe. And this war cannot end unless the Russians come to an agreement with Washington,” he added.

Hungary, which covers about 50 percent of its energy needs from Russia, is negotiating a gas import deal with Qatar, Orbán said, hoping to start deliveries in 2026.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP.