Orbán: If Putin comes to Hungary, he will be received with full honors – INTERVIEW

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Photo: Facebook/Orbán Viktor

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in a rare and candid interview with France’s LCI television channel, spoke openly about the war in Ukraine, the future of the European Union, his views on Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, and Emmanuel Macron — as well as domestic issues including the ban on the Budapest Pride march. He stated that if Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to visit Hungary, he would be received as an official state guest in line with diplomatic protocol.

Speaking with journalist Darius Rochebin on Sunday, Orbán said that in his view, Russia is too weak to start a world war — and is struggling even to defeat Ukraine. He dismissed the idea of a NATO offensive and insisted that Ukraine’s membership in either NATO or the EU does not serve Europe’s best interests. According to him, only a U.S.–Russia agreement can bring an end to the war, while current sanctions are harming Europe more than Moscow.

Praise for Trump, criticism of Macron, support for Le Pen

Orbán once again praised former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him a “tough but effective negotiator.” He believes Trump is the only Western leader capable of exerting enough pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow to force a ceasefire. Regarding Hungary-US relations, Orbán said Hungary could “strike a deal” with the Trump administration, although he said he was expecting initial difficulties. He said the US president was “a tough partner, and it’s becoming obvious that the leaders of our European institutions are feather-weight, while he is super heavyweight.” At the same time, the US had “stopped the financing of progressive leftist media and NGOs”, which he said had been “an affront to sovereignty”.

Further, Orbán said the press was “totally free” in Hungary. “A substantial part of the outlets are financed from abroad.” The criticism “allowed freely in Hungary are much more robust and radical than in most European countries,” he said.

Orbán also took a stand in favour of Hungary’s foreign policy, saying that the country was working to cooperate with China, Russia and the US as well as the EU. At the same time, “I won’t allow anyone to interfere with Hungarians living as they please, be they in Brussels, Washington or Moscow.” he said.

On French politics, Orbán declared Marine Le Pen to be his only remaining ally in France. He said he would “pop the champagne” if Le Pen wins the 2027 presidential election, praising her consistent support for sovereign nation-states. If elected, Orbán believes she would help reshape the EU budget to focus on the future instead of financing war, and push back against Brussels’ bureaucracy.

By contrast, Orbán was sharply critical of Emmanuel Macron, saying the two leaders represent fundamentally different visions for Europe’s future.

EU stagnation and strategic partnerships

According to Orbán, the EU is stagnating due to excessive centralization in Brussels. While he still believes in the European ideal, he stressed that powers must be returned to member states. Every nation must be understood through the lens of its own culture and ideology, he said — which is why Hungary seeks stronger ties with countries such as China, Russia, and Turkey.

Budapest Pride ban and LGBTQ+ rights

The interview also touched on the banning of the 2025 Budapest Pride march. Orbán defended the decision by claiming that “events which disrupt entire cities and are seen as harmful to children” should not be allowed. This stance, along with previous legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights, has been heavily criticized by several European human rights organizations.

Putin and Netanyahu: open to hosting controversial leaders

One of the most striking parts of the interview was Orbán’s statement that President Vladimir Putin would be welcomed as an official guest if he chose to visit Hungary. “If the President of Russia decides to come to Hungary, we will receive him as protocol demands,” he said.

Orbán last met with Putin in July 2024 in Moscow, where they discussed the war and the possibility of reopening diplomatic channels. They had previously met in Beijing in October 2023 at the Belt and Road Forum, where the war was also on the agenda. At both meetings, Orbán emphasized Hungary’s interest in maintaining bilateral relations and advocated for a prompt ceasefire.

He also drew a parallel with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was welcomed in Hungary despite an active arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Orbán dismissed the ICC as “too political” in its actions.

Related article: Why didn’t Hungary arrest Netanyahu? ICC wants answers

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Demographics and Migration

Regarding illegal migration, Orban said Hungary was not allowing migrants into the country, despite the hefty fine demanded by the EU. He said the bloc’s migration regulations “are inadequate and we must revolt against them.” “We cannot allow migrants to upend the order on our streets, to enter the country without our permission, to violate our daughters and women, to kill people and to spread anti-Semitism and homophobia.” He said Hungary wanted to solve its demographic issues by strengthening families and Christian traditions. “Women in Hungary enjoy the widest array of rights in Europe, thanks to, among others, the strongest family support system” in the bloc, he said.

Full interview.

As we wrote a week ago, new Eurostat data reveals that the number of Russians granted Hungarian citizenship has doubled since before the war in Ukraine, read details HERE.

Read here for more news about relations between Russia and Hungary

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