Hungary’s Orban says Russia stands to gain as ‘irrational’ West loses power

Reuters  —  Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday Russia’s leadership was “hyper rational” and that Ukraine would never be able to fulfil its hopes of becoming a member of the European Union or NATO. Orban, a nationalist in power since 2010, made the comments during a speech in which he forecast a shift
Hungary’s Orban says Russia stands to gain as ‘irrational’ West loses power


Reuters
 — 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday Russia’s leadership was “hyper rational” and that Ukraine would never be able to fulfil its hopes of becoming a member of the European Union or NATO.

Orban, a nationalist in power since 2010, made the comments during a speech in which he forecast a shift in global power away from the “irrational” West towards Asia and Russia.

“In the next long decades, maybe centuries, Asia will be the dominant centre of the world,” Orban said, mentioning China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia as the world’s future big powers.

“And we Westerners pushed the Russians into this bloc as well,” he said in the televised speech before ethnic Hungarians at a festival in the town of Baile Tusnad in neighbouring Romania.

Related article
EU moves high-level meetings out of Budapest to protest Orbán’s Ukraine war stance

Orban, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, has sharply differed from the rest of the bloc by seeking warmer ties with Beijing and Moscow, and he angered some EU leaders when he went on surprise visits to Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing this month for talks on the war in Ukraine.

He said that in contrast to the “weakness” of the West, Russia’s position in world affairs was rational and predictable, saying the country had shown economic flexibility in adapting to Western sanctions since it invaded Crimea in 2014.

Orban, whose own government has passed a number of anti-LGBT measures, said Russia had gained clout in many parts of the world by cracking down on LGBTQ+ rights.

“The strongest international appeal of Russian soft power is its opposition to LGBTQ,” he said.

He added that Ukraine would never become a member of the EU or NATO because “we Europeans do not have enough money for that”.

“The EU needs to give up its identity as a political project and become an economic and defence project,” Orban added.

The EU opened membership talks with Ukraine late last month, although a long and tough road lies ahead of the country before it can join the bloc.

A declaration at the end of the NATO summit this month said the alliance will support Ukraine on “its irreversible path” towards membership.

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply
Related Posts
Radical Muslim Leaders Boast: ‘Uncommitted’ Movement Sidelined Biden in Favor of Harris — ‘Votes Still to Be Earned’
Read More

Radical Muslim Leaders Boast: ‘Uncommitted’ Movement Sidelined Biden in Favor of Harris — ‘Votes Still to Be Earned’

Radical American anti-Israel activists Linda Sarsour and CAIR Director Nihad Awad declared their “uncommitted” movement — which urged Democratic voters to protest President Joe Biden’s support for Israel by casting non-Biden votes in state primaries — was responsible for sidelining the 81-year-old president from the Democratic ticket in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris, as
Video: Dave Matthews Joins Anti-Israel Protest, Calls Netanyahu Address ‘Disgusting,’ ‘Obscene’
Read More

Video: Dave Matthews Joins Anti-Israel Protest, Calls Netanyahu Address ‘Disgusting,’ ‘Obscene’

Rocker Dave Matthews was seen in the anti-Israel crowd that took to Washington, DC, streets Wednesday to protest against visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. News outlet Al Jazeera found him and did an interview. “It’s a disgusting show of support for someone who doesn’t deserve our support,” Matthews despaired in an on-air exchange with
Dodgers beat Cards, but Glasnow heads to IL with elbow tendinitisDodgers beat Cards, but Glasnow heads to IL with elbow tendinitis
Read More

Dodgers beat Cards, but Glasnow heads to IL with elbow tendinitisDodgers beat Cards, but Glasnow heads to IL with elbow tendinitis

Dodgers beat Cards, but Glasnow heads to IL with elbow tendinitis 41 minutes ago Juan Toribio @juanctoribio Share share-square-164020 ST. LOUIS -- Before Friday’s opener against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts alluded to the fact that some of the pitchers on the staff are dealing with some discomfort or injuries. Turns
Cairns dad Nithin Paul unexpectedly dies aged 37
Read More

Cairns dad Nithin Paul unexpectedly dies aged 37

The unexpected death of a father-of-two has left his pregnant widow raising their children alone. Nithin Paul, 37, died suddenly in Cairns in far north Queensland on Sunday. His wife, Dayana and their young children have been left without a husband and father. Mr Paul was born in Kerala in India's south before moving to New