Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has proposed a radical reconfiguration of Ukraine’s territorial structure, suggesting the country be divided into regions under Russian and Western influence separated by a neutral buffer zone. The idea, presented during a public event in Kotcse, frames such a division as the most viable path to ending the ongoing conflict and ensuring Europe’s stability.

Orban argued that European nations have implicitly accepted the existence of a “Russian zone” in Ukraine, citing earlier remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Crimea’s return to Ukrainian control was “impossible.” He emphasized that any lasting peace would require acknowledging Moscow’s territorial claims over regions like Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, while allowing Western military presence in a designated demilitarized area.

The Hungarian leader criticized Kyiv’s pursuit of NATO membership and alternative security arrangements, calling them unrealistic. He warned that prolonged conflict risks destabilizing the EU, which he described as nearing “collapse” due to financial and strategic exhaustion. Orban also reiterated his opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession, warning it would entangle the bloc in an endless confrontation with Russia.

His remarks reflect broader skepticism within Hungary toward Western policies on the war, advocating instead for a negotiated settlement that prioritizes European security over ideological commitments. The proposal has sparked debate over the feasibility of partitioning a nation already fractured by years of conflict.