Hungary’s PM Orbán held talks with European Commission’s vice-president

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Margaritis Schinas, vice-president of the European Commission, in Budapest on Friday afternoon, the prime minister’s press chief said.

The talks focused on the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis it triggered, Bertalan Havasi said.

Schinas and Orbán agreed that restoring peace in Ukraine as soon as possible and ensuring uniform action by the European Union to this effect were priorities.

Schinas expressed appreciation for the helpful approach of Hungarian authorities, civil organisations and citizens in aid of Ukrainian refugees that he experienced during his latest visit to the border zone, the press chief said.

The vice-president also promised EU financial support for these efforts.

• Read also: Hungarian Wizz Air to evacuate employees stuck in war-struck Ukraine

Regarding Hungary’s stance on defence and military action, Orbán said NATO would protect Hungary “if we are ready to protect ourselves”. “If a country wants peace it needs to have some power, which could come from two sources: from strength of its own and that of its allies”, he told Kossuth Radio.

Without strength of its own, its allies would be reluctant to sacrifice effort and money to defend any state, he said.

He said Hungary’s security was “solid as concrete” and the country was strong enough to ensure its security even without allies. “Disaster could only hit if we lost our mind and get involved in the war”, he said.

“No NATO could protect us against our own stupidity.”

Read alsoEU praised Hungary for its crisis management, promised money

Source: MTI