Zelenskyy Details Putin's Strategy to Divide the EU, Citing Orban as a Key Figure

Ukrainian President's Statement

According to Главком: In an interview with Politico, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that Vladimir Putin is actively attempting to undermine European Union unity by leveraging certain politicians, specifically naming Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Zelenskyy stated that Putin's objective is to fracture European nations to achieve the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia. This warning comes amid ongoing concerns about the Kremlin's influence campaigns targeting Western democracies.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy emphasized that Putin does not respect Europe, despite it being within his sphere of interest.

"He tried to divide European countries, and in some places he succeeded, but not fully. And it's great that today Europe is in good shape,"

the president noted. He also pointed out that there are currently politicians within Europe who are actively working against continental unity.

"These are like internal subversions,"

Zelenskyy underscored.

Viktor Orbán's Perspective

In his own interview, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed the view that Ukraine poses a threat to Hungary. He argued that "building and maintaining a huge Ukrainian army with European money is against Hungary's security interests." Orbán also raised concerns about the risk of an increasingly powerful Ukrainian army positioned on Hungary's eastern border, a prospect he finds alarming.

Zelenskyy clarified that Putin's ultimate goal is to secure the removal of sanctions and regain access to his frozen assets.

"For this, he does not need unity, he does not need a strong Europe,"

he concluded, highlighting the dangers posed by the Russian president's actions.

This situation underscores the persistent challenges the European Union faces in the realm of foreign policy and security. Putin's attempts to splinter European countries by manipulating politicians like Orbán threaten regional stability. Maintaining European unity in response to these provocations remains critical, as only collective action can provide an effective defense against such external threats.