Who Really Started the Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine?

Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, recently made some bold statements about the Russia-Ukraine war. He questioned who actually started the conflict and criticized Western leaders for backing Ukraine. Orbán argued that Ukraine is not as small as some might think and that it's not entirely clear who attacked whom first. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin defended his country's actions in Ukraine, claiming that Russia is not responsible for the deaths caused by the war. He blamed Ukraine's government for a supposed coup d'état. This is quite a claim, as it was Russia that launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, responded to Orbán's comments by making a historical reference. He compared Orbán's uncertainty about who started the war to Hungary's leadership in 1939. This is a strong statement, as it suggests that Orbán's comments are similar to those made by leaders who tried to avoid taking a clear stance during times of conflict. At the recent European Council summit, EU leaders agreed to borrow €90 billion to send financial aid to Ukraine. However, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia chose not to participate in this program. This decision highlights the growing divide within the EU regarding its support for Ukraine. Orbán also revealed that Putin had warned him about the consequences of using frozen Russian state assets to help Ukraine. According to Orbán, Putin threatened to take countermeasures if the EU went ahead with this plan. Orbán claimed that Hungary has taken steps to protect itself from these potential countermeasures.