Orban calls Ukraine a "protectorate of the West" at Brussels Conference

At the National Conservatism Conference in Brussels, Viktor Orban made remarks targeting Ukraine. "Guys, you have to understand that you are a buffer zone country. You can't change your house number," the Hungarian Prime Minister asserted.

He echoed phrases often found in Russian propaganda. "Ukraine is not any more a sovereign state. Ukraine is now just a protectorate of the West. So, without getting the money and the weapons from the European Union and the United States, Ukraine as a state would cease to exist," Orban remarked.

According to him, this situation shows that Ukraine has stopped being a sovereign nation. The Associated Press, covering Orban's comments, noted that he is frequently branded "Putin's closest ally" in international media.

Ukraine is consistently requesting more ammunition and air defence systems from its Western allies as Russian assaults on its cities and energy infrastructure continue daily.

On Wednesday, Republicans in the House of Representatives introduced drafts of three bills aimed at supporting Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, with proposals amounting to nearly £61 billion in aid for Ukraine. President Joe Biden endorsed this legislative package on Wednesday, urging both houses of Congress to expedite these bills and promising to sign them immediately upon their passage. The vote is scheduled for Saturday.

Tom Cole, chair of the House of Representatives budget committee, expressed, "I know this to be true: If we don't help our friends in time of need, soon enough, we won't have any friends at all. The time is now to act." He emphasized the importance of quickly passing the bills and forwarding them to the Senate.