"Strives for dictatorship"

Scholz and Biden lash out at Orbán after statement

Budapest and Berlin are shivering.(Bild: AFP)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has spoken out in favor of stopping military aid for Ukraine - in line with the wishes of former US President Donald Trump. His statements are making waves within the European Union. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has now clearly contradicted his counterpart.

It is not just Germany that must continue to support Ukraine, but the entire EU, Scholz said in Berlin on Tuesday. "For as long as it is necessary for Ukraine to defend itself."

Meanwhile, the heads of US intelligence agencies urged members of the US House of Representatives to approve additional military aid for Ukraine. They said this would not only support Kiev in its fight against Russia, but also curb China's aggression. "This has implications for American interests that directly impact our interests in the Indo-Pacific region," CIA Director Williams Burns said at a hearing before the Intelligence Committee.

Orbán: Trump does not want to give "a penny"
Orbán had previously said, with reference to a meeting with former US President Donald Trump, that he would "not pay a penny" for Ukraine if he were re-elected. This is the right way to end the war, he said. "It is clear to all of us that we must also support Ukraine with arms aid," said Scholz.

Orbán and Trump are politically close.(Bild: AFP)

The national-conservative Hungarian head of government has been isolated among the 27 EU member states for months. He maintains close contacts with Moscow and, unlike the EU partners, has clearly spoken out in favor of Trump's re-election.

Biden also lashes out at Orbán
At the same time, his relations with US President Joe Biden are deteriorating. Hungary summoned the US ambassador to Budapest to protest against Biden's statements.

After Orbán's meeting with Trump, Biden said during a campaign appearance, according to US media, that Orbán had "said quite openly that he does not believe that democracy works and is striving for a dictatorship". Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called Biden's statement a lie and a "very serious insult".