Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that Donald Trump will not finance Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression if he is re-elected as US president.
“He will not give a penny in the Ukraine-Russia war. That is why the war will end,” the conservative prime minister said after meeting with Trump in Florida.
The former US president promised to end the war “within 24 hours” if elected but gave no details.
Mr. Orbán has openly supported his longtime ally in the 2024 White House race.
“It is obvious that Ukraine cannot stand on its own feet,” Orbán told Hungarian television channel M1 late Sunday.
“If the Americans don’t give money and weapons, along with the Europeans, then the war is over. And if the Americans don’t give money, the Europeans alone are unable to finance this war. And then the war is over.”
He added that Mr Trump had “pretty detailed plans” on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war – but did not elaborate.
During Friday’s meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago mansion, the former US president praised his guests.”There’s nobody that’s better, smarter, or a better leader than Viktor Orban. He’s fantastic,” he said.
During his visit to the United States, Mr. Orban did not meet with current President Joe Biden, who is expected to be Mr. Trump’s main rival in the November presidential election.
It is highly unusual for a visiting foreign leader to arrange a meeting with a former leader without calling the current leadership.
Since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he has repeatedly drawn harsh criticism from other EU leaders due to his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Unlike many other Western countries, Mr Orbán has refused to send weapons to neighbouring Ukraine and has repeatedly said Kyiv is incapable of defeating nuclear-armed Russia.
EU leaders are increasingly concerned that Trump’s second term in office could lead to significant cuts in U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine, as well as the NATO military alliance.
A $95bn (£75bn) foreign aid bill, including $60bn in military aid to Ukraine, has been stalled in the US Congress due to opposition from Republicans.
Republicans, openly encouraged by Mr. Trump, say the bill will not be allowed to clear the final hurdle in the House without first agreeing to additional funding for U.S. border security.
Russian forces have recently increased their strength in eastern Ukraine as Kyiv faces a severe ammunition shortage.
Ukraine relies heavily on weapons from its main supplier, the United States, and other Western allies to continue its fight against Russia, a much larger military power with an extensive arsenal of artillery.