Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized that “we must radically increase our defense capabilities”, stressing that “it is in Hungary’s interests that the war in neighboring Ukraine ends as soon as possible.”

In his statements, he explained that “the military facts are slowly unfolding in Ukraine, where the country is losing a large number of its soldiers every day” and pointed out that “as long as the front of the fighting seems far from Hungary, the situation may change, and he reiterated that Hungary, as a member of NATO, The Atlantic (NATO) should stay out of the war.”

Orban also pointed out that “Budapest is not even ready to negotiate any possible EU bans or restrictions on Russian gas imports, because it would undermine the Hungarian economy”, and considered that “what is needed is not sanctions, but an immediate ceasefire and peaceful negotiations,” he said, adding that “peace is also necessary to contain what he called the wave of war.”

Inflation in Hungary is hovering in double digits despite caps on fuel prices, electricity bills and basic food items, forcing the National Bank to raise its benchmark interest rate by 185 basis points to 7.75 percent on Tuesday.