Peter Szijarto warned European countries about the escalation of the war. He called the European Commission's initiatives "fanatic" and "mass-pro-war and pro-Ukrainian". This was about what has been practiced for many years and does not solve any problem, namely sending more weapons, money and military advisors to Ukraine. He stated that backing is being collected due to the fact that it is not compulsory due to the Hungarian veto. Overall, EUR 40 billion is to be spent on aid to Ukraine this year. At first, 2 million rounds of ammunition worth EUR 5 billion are to be sent. He stated that Hungary did not take part in training missions for Ukraine but recommended that they take place outside the country's territory as it threatened to escalate. He besides criticised another package of sanctions against Russia, reported that Ukraine was pushing for Europe to limit the acquisition of Russian energy and atomic industry. He added that what is the point of imposing sanctions on Russian ministers if the highest-ranking representatives of Russia and the US meet for talks. "Similarly, any want to reduce the movement of Russian diplomats in the EU, while US-Russia talks proceed on restoring the conditions for their diplomatic missions". It can be seen that the European Union is trying to “turn the Vistula stick around” proverbially, while the wind of change makes the current even more tense and does not pay attention to specified insignificant obstacles. 1 of the European Commissioners proposed the full integration of Ukraine into the European Union before becoming a associate of the Union. What a surprise to the opposition of a fewer intelligent Hungarian politicians.
Cost-effective integration of Ukraine into the Union
The political manager Victor Orban Balazs Orban besides referred to this problem. He said that "the forced accession of Ukraine to the EU would consume the resources needed to address all the another challenges facing the European Union and would seriously weaken Hungary's strategical position, emphasised Balázs Orbán. The Prime Minister's political manager pointed out that full integration of the country would cost around EUR 2500 billion spread over respective years, which is 12 times the EU budget this year." So this shows the scale of the costs that will hit all countries, and, as is known, the weakest and smallest could endure the most. Hungarians have no intention of agreeing to economical or political suicide. "Balázs Orbán stressed that the cost of rebuilding Ukraine is huge: cautious estimates talk of $500 billion, while Ukrainian sources talk of up to EUR 1000 billion. Moreover, keeping the country moving would cost $100 billion a year, which would besides mostly cover the EU." And the full accelerated integration procedure would end in 2029.
Understanding the Sources of hatred and Disdain
This is another understandable reason why Hungarians do not intend to submit to a policy that seems completely irrational and harmful from an economical and political point of view. Especially if we take into account the fact that the Hungarian politician has pointed out that the retreat from neoliberal politics is precisely the case of Donald Trump and the course to return to national politics is the right direction. He emphasized that the end of neoliberalism taught them many lessons, “the most crucial of which is that the economy is inactive organised at national level. He added that Western economical policy fell into its own trap: excessive regulation, fiscal self-restriction and capacity outsourcing weakened both national sovereignty and economical performance." As a result, “foreign policy based on purely moral principles failed at political level. As the Prime Minister's political manager recalled, the approach of Hungarian abroad policy is that what is morally right serves the safety and stableness of the full community." Therefore, from this point of view, it can be justified that the European force on an outdated, aggressive course is not in the area of interest for Hungarian politicians and the frustration of European elites will not change this, especially as Hungary maintains excellent relations with Russia, China and the USA. And with the Americans they announce a golden age in relations between these countries.
Bartłomiej Doborzyński (Polish thought Club in Gdańsk)
Text for the Polish Barometer.
