“She is right on Russia issue”: Orbán praises Merkel's policy towards Putin

Budapest – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán both praised and criticized German politicians for their policies towards Russia. Although Chancellor Friedrich Merz was reprimanded, there were kind words directed at former Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On MD METAxel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner’s podcast (including BILD, WELT), Orbán said: “I am ready to help the German Chancellor if I can to bring about peace – but he supports war.” And this is also true in the EU.

As justification, the Hungarian head of government referred to military support for Ukraine: “They said it openly: We have to continue the war to continue supporting Ukraine.” This would improve the situation on the front lines and also the conditions for negotiations with Russia. However, Orbán considers this “completely wrong”. Because: “Time is more beneficial to Russia than it is to us.”

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Germany views Orbán as having a primary responsibility regarding Ukraine: “Without Germany, Europe’s position will never be in favor of peace. If Germany does not immediately want peace (…), then it means war.”

But Merz and his government want to show “more strength on the front lines”. But this carries “the risk of escalation and a third world war.” Orbán: “We must show our strength at the negotiating table, not in front.”

Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner in an interview with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

Photo: Orban’s office

When asked about Angela Merkel, whom he recently received in Budapest, Orbán grew lyrical, even though they have never agreed on migration policies or the European Union’s Green Deal. He even revealed, “He even yells at me sometimes – and that’s not nice – more than my wife does.”

“He did good things for Germany”

But Merkel was “very intelligent and basically a lovely person” and he “enjoyed working with her.” He especially praised them Russian policy Long-serving Chancellor: “I agree with him almost 100 percent. There was a meeting at the European Council where only he and I argued for peace and cooperation.”

That’s why he considers harsh criticism of the former chancellor in Germany unfair: “Now it’s become fashionable to talk badly about him. It’s not fair. He did good things for Germany, good things for Europe – and of course some bad things too. But being right and fair is important in politics. And he was right on the question of Russia.” If he had still been chancellor during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “he would have immediately called Putin” and started a dialogue.