PM Orban Shares Details of Exchange with Zelensky + video

In an exclusive podcast interview, Hungary's prime minister talks about the EU, Ukraine and football.

Orbán Viktor a Mandiner podcastjában Forrás: YouTube

Asked about the possible release of a massive EU fund for Hungary, Viktor Orban replied by saying: 

We'll believe it when we see it.

"Hungary has negotiated and fulfilled all requests and conditions," he pointed out, adding, "there are no substantive objections to the quality of the country's operation that would withstand scrutiny. This money is Hungary's," he said and emphasized that

the government is willing to make financial deals on financial questions, but is not willing to make strategic or policy deals on financial issues.

Zelensky and Ukraine

About his recent exchange with Zelensky, the PM said he wouldn't call it a meeting per say, but as the Ukrainian president had something to say, they exchanged a few words.

Changes in Ukrainian law deprived minority Hungarians of their rights eight years ago, and the Hungarian government has fought since then to have them reinstated. The recently issued law is being examined to assess the impact it will have on the lives of Transcarpathian Hungarians. However, the PM does not harbor much optimism, as the Hungarian government's approach is completely different:

for Transcarpathian Hungarians they demand a return to the law passed back in 2015.

On the subject of Ukraine's EU integration, Viktor Orban said,  "the EU is about to make a grave mistake, and they must be prevented from doing so." Gaining membership is a procedure that is governed by very clearly defined rules and conditions. Only once these are met, is it possible to decide based on its performance whether a country can be accepted. The union wants to break with this practice, reasoning that it is a geostrategic issue.

In actuality, Ukraine is not fit to open accession talks with, according to PM Orban, but an exception would be made because of the war.

This is a bad move and we would destroy the European Union,

he stated, explaining that the EU would cause a magnitude of damage to itself that it hasn't even assessed. "The Hungarian position: if they want to extend a geostrategic gesture to Ukraine, so be it, but it shouldn't take the form of EU membership," emphasized Viktor Orban, offering a strategic partnership agreement as a potential plausible solution.

Dominik Szoboszlai 

When asked, the PM told the reporter that he had already met and exchanged a few words with the star Hungarian footballer, Dominik Szoboszlai, a few years ago in Telki. 

I have a subdued relationship with Dominik: he is unequivocally king. Hungarian prime ministers come and go, but few citizens of Hungary have played for Liverpool. In fact, there have been more prime ministers of Hungary than there have been footballers who have played for Liverpool with his level of recognition. So the question is not when I will meet him again, but when he will be willing to meet with me.

Cover image: Frame taken from video of the interview (Source: Mandiner)