Is Europe Preparing for War? Hungarian Insider Talks Russia, NATO and EU Future

Why is Hungary keeping Ukraine out of the EU, and why has "Orbanism" become the country's defining ideology? How could energy contracts, foreign policy, and upcoming elections change Europe's future? In an exclusive interview with Pravda.Ru special correspondent Daria Aslamova, German-Hungarian political scientist and international security expert Georg Spöttle shares his views on Orbanism, the threats to the EU, and the political changes awaiting the country.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Richardprins, https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/pdm/

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Georg, it is a pleasure to meet you here in the capital of Hungary. You have been living in Hungary for a long time and are known in the country as a blogger and journalist. Can you be called a blogger?

Of course, yes.

Today, let us talk about Hungary as a country. On one hand, it is a small state pursuing its own pro-Hungarian, nationally oriented policy. On the other hand, Hungary is known as a center of global influence, a kind of geopolitical crossroads that draws the attention of major powers. Against this background, a new term has appeared: “Orbanism.” What does this term mean?

What 'Orbanism' Means Inside Hungary

For me, Orbanism is simply part of our normal everyday life — just like family. As we understand it, there is a woman, the mother, a man, the father, and their children, who together form a family. Today, however, we see this whole insane LGBTQ ideology rising everywhere — and Orbanism defends the traditional family. Orbanism also means that our borders are secure. We control who may enter. Anyone with a visa — citizens of the EU or the US — is welcome. They can come and enjoy the country. Criminals and terrorists are not welcome.

I know many people who came here from Brazil, the US, Syria, Turkey — they live in Hungary, and we work together as normal people.

But when it comes to illegal migrants, Hungary has taken a very strict stance. Why?

Let us recall what happened last weekend at the Christmas market in Berlin. A young Syrian man, 22 years old, had been working as a spy there. German and American intelligence were tracking him. He had three different identities, three apartments under those identities. In those apartments, they found chemicals — explosives for a bomb. They discovered detonators and materials for suicide belts. His phone showed links to Daesh, to Syria. Orbanism means we protect our country from such terrorists and from illegal immigration.

We built a fence on our southern border with Serbia ten years ago precisely to keep Hungary safe. As a result, Hungary has no illegal immigration.

Brussels and the US — at the time the Biden administration — did not appreciate this. They began to wonder why Hungary had no illegal migration problems. We also have no drug or weapons problems. We have zero tolerance for drugs. Back in my former home city, Berlin, young Africans from Nigeria, Senegal or Gabon were selling drugs to children in parks. That destroys families and society. We tolerate none of that here. If drug dealers or drug users are found here, they are deported. This is Orbanism. It protects our European way of life from criminals, terrorists and insane ideologies like LGBTQ and transgender movements.

Will Orbanism Survive the Next Election?

This way of life — Orbanism — may end next spring after the Hungarian elections. It seems Viktor Orbán’s chances of reelection are nearly fifty-fifty. Many feel he has been in power too long and want a new face. Do you think Orbanism will survive?

I hope we will win again, and I, together with my colleagues, will work hard to make that happen. But the reality is that Orbán’s opponent, Péter Magyar, is quite strong. Many people follow him. I truly do not understand why. It looks like a cult.

Péter Magyar is the opposition politician who wants to become the next Prime Minister of Hungary, correct?

Yes, correct. He is from the opposition and very close to Brussels. He says Russia is an enemy and promises to stop Russian oil and gas supplies to Hungary. He also promises to break all economic ties with Russia. This is part of his program. He also wants to halt construction of the Paks II nuclear power plant, which Hungary is building together with Russia. The project is not yet finished, and it is crucial for Hungary — nuclear power is the cheapest and cleanest energy. And of course, we need Russian oil and gas — 60 percent of the energy our economy consumes comes from Russia. We need this. Russia has been a reliable partner for decades, with companies like Lukoil and Transneft. Orbán’s government has no intention of ending that partnership.

The problem for Péter Magyar also lies in his recent divorce. He is the former husband of the former Minister of Justice. She is a very kind woman, but after the divorce, Magyar suddenly turned against Orbán’s government, even though he had long held good positions. He left Fidesz and launched a liberal program with his new party Tisza, named after a Hungarian river. With his liberal-minded supporters, he may end decades of Orbanism. His chances are significant, since all previous liberal and social-democratic parties failed in elections.

It is interesting that Péter Magyar claims all high-ranking Fidesz members should be imprisoned for corruption. He says he will imprison bloggers and journalists like me. This is strange, since my blog is not even about Hungary — I write mostly about Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa. He also claims high-ranking Fidesz politicians must lose their bank accounts because, in his view, they hold stolen money.

Do you think he may be mentally unstable?

I know some psychiatrists, and yes — they say he is very dangerous.

And this dangerous man could come to power in Hungary?

Yes, he could — but I hope Hungarians are wise enough not to vote for this fool. He has no team. No people capable of becoming Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice or Minister of Foreign Affairs. Yet he enjoys support from the pornography industry — it is madness.

If he comes to power, what will it mean for Hungary?

It would be a catastrophe. During his campaign, Viktor Orbán promised to create one million jobs. He created 1.2 million. The Hungarian economy is doing well. Hungary has no enemies except Ukraine — Ukraine is our enemy now — but we maintain good relations with everyone else: Russia, the US, China, the Middle East — the Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia. Brussels hates this. It wants a puppet, and Péter Magyar would be that puppet because he hates Orbán.

For people like him, Orbán is the embodiment of evil. We block Ukraine’s EU membership. We vote against that insane plan because it would destroy Hungarian agriculture. Ukraine could flood the country with low-quality but cheap products — fruit, potatoes and so on. And there is the Ukrainian mafia — very dangerous.

Has it already arrived in Hungary?

Yes, but not in dangerous forms yet. The police handle it. But if borders open to Ukraine, drugs, cigarettes, weapons and prostitution will flood in.

The Risks of EU Militarization and the Fear of a Larger War

I often hear Russian spoken on the streets here, but I know these are not Russians.

Yes, yes.

The Ukrainian mafia is already a major issue in Berlin. Ukrainian, Lebanese and Arab clans control prostitution and human trafficking. In Hungary, this is almost nonexistent. There are no Arab mafia clans, so the Ukrainian mafia may find opportunities here. The government knows these dangers — that is why we keep Ukraine outside the EU. And Brussels will send all development money to Ukraine — Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and others will see none of it. The EU economy will collapse.

Let us turn to foreign policy. In Russia, many are concerned about the militarization of the EU. Europe is not just demonizing Russia rhetorically — it is preparing ports, airfields and infrastructure for war. Is Europe becoming a threat to Russia, or is this political theater?

Yesterday, I attended an event where Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Foreign Minister and a close friend of mine, spoke about this. All this comes from the historical legacy of people like Sikorski, Friedrich Merz and others. German liberals say Russian children aged 12–14 are forced into military training to prepare for war. This is a lie. Why would Russia attack NATO? For what reason? There is none.

But there is a strong sense of danger in Russia today. Is this an illusion or reality?

No, I do not think Russia plans to fight NATO. There is no reason.

Yet the EU pushes the idea of war with Russia.

Yes. The German Chancellor says daily in the media that Germany must prepare for war with Russia. Other countries — Latvia, Estonia, Poland — repeat the same. Friedrich Merz, the current Chancellor, says all young men must serve a year in the army because of the “Russian threat.” But what can Russia take from Germany? Illegal migrants and Arabs?

I write every day in my blog that Russia does not need war. Russia needs the Donbass — a region with a Russian-speaking population. This is the goal: to take control of that territory so people can live peacefully inside Russia. And of course this is a proxy war — 27 countries help Ukraine with money, weapons and equipment, including Storm Shadow missiles.

Does this mean Russia has reasons for concern?

Absolutely. I do not even trust Donald Trump. He still hesitates — to give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine or not. One day he says yes, the next day no. I cannot understand him — not on Ukraine, not on China. If this is a game, it is dangerous. Ukraine is our neighbor — I can reach it in three hours by car. For the US, Ukraine is far away, they can afford to play. If the US sends Tomahawks, Ukraine will strike Moscow or Saint Petersburg, and Russia may respond harshly — perhaps with tactical nuclear weapons.

Is Europe Truly Ready for War?

Officials and journalists here often tell me not to believe such stories — that Europe has no army capable of fighting Russia and no budget for it. But if the EU starts a war, Germany will be on the front line. As a man of German origin, what do you say?

Germany has a very weak army. I served seven years in the German armed forces. I saw them from within — in pitiful condition. We lack soldiers, tanks, missiles — everything. What Germany once had is now in Ukraine. To prepare for war, Germany and the EU need at least five years, maybe more. There is no money for such a war. The German economy is in terrible shape. There are almost 3.5 million unemployed — a record.

Some draw parallels with the period after World War I. At that time, Germany also had low morale, economic collapse and hunger — yet then the German people suddenly became an extraordinarily effective military force. Could something similar happen today?

No, not anymore. German history teachers taught us that we are a guilty nation burdened with responsibility for what Germany did to the Jewish people during World War II. Most Germans still feel deep shame. Liberalism of the last 40 years has done its work.

Today in the streets, you can see young German men wearing skirts. Some do not know whether they are men or women. You can legally change your gender in documents for ten euros. When applying for a passport, they ask what gender you consider yourself — even if they clearly see whether you are male or female. People pay the fee and get a new gender. Today in Germany, almost no one wants to join the army.

I disagree a little. Constantly repeating to a person that he is guilty can sometimes lead to an opposite effect — there is such a psychological phenomenon.

Yes, but I do not see this happening in German society. Many of my friends with sons of military age say their children do not want to serve. They say that if something starts with Russia, if war begins, they will help their sons flee to Brazil, Mexico — anywhere far away. They do not want to fight.

When I worked in Germany ten years ago, people often told me they regretted what Germany did to the Jewish people in World War II. But interestingly, they did not regret what Germany did to 27 million Russians. They said: Russians won the war, they took Berlin — why regret anything toward the winners? One professor even told me that Germans feel guilt only toward Jews, not toward Russians, because Jews suffered most. For him, Stalin was as evil as Hitler.

This is madness. It reminds me of posters recently put up in German metro stations — almost certainly by Ukrainian intelligence — urging German men to “avenge the Soviet victory” and join Ukraine’s armed forces. There will always be some crazy neo-Nazis who will do it.

Yes, this is deeply rooted in German society, even if it is not always visible. That is why I say that if a war between Europe and Russia starts again, Germany will lead it.

I know some neo-Nazis in Germany who understand Russia’s actions. All of them are on Russia’s side. They are dangerous men with Hitler tattoos — wealthy, intelligent. One owns a textile factory. They know why the war in Ukraine began — because of what the Ukrainian army did to the Russian-speaking minority in Donbass. They remember the massacre in Odessa, where people were burned alive. It is interesting: neo-Nazis support Russia.

This is strange. Why do they not support Zelensky, who promotes Bandera’s ideology in Ukraine?

Zelensky is Jewish.

So there is a contradiction: they would like to embrace Ukrainian nationalism, but because Zelensky is Jewish, they side with Russia?

I have never met anyone who supports Bandera. Many Hungarians do not even know who he was. I tell my readers that Bandera’s men murdered around 100,000 Poles. I write about how the KGB found him in Munich and eliminated him. I also show photos of Zelensky’s bodyguards with Nazi symbols and skulls on their uniforms. And there was the moment when Ukrainian soldiers arrived in Germany for training — they also had Nazi symbols. They were ordered to remove them, because Germans no longer share Nazi ideology.

The Baltic Region and the Fear of a Sudden War

Let us talk about the Baltic region. Baltic and Scandinavian countries increasingly raise the issue of the Kaliningrad enclave. Any provocation there could lead to a large-scale war very quickly. Could this happen if the European elite truly wants war?

The calmest, wisest political leader in the world today is Vladimir Putin. When I say calm, I mean he analyzes situations before making decisions. He does not want a war with NATO. I trust him, and I think most Hungarians trust him too. He is wise, not impulsive like Donald Trump.

The EU does not have enough soldiers or equipment to start a war. Russia is far stronger — around six thousand nuclear warheads. The EU has nothing comparable. France and the UK have some, but not many. Russia also has new weapons — the Avangard hypersonic missiles flying at Mach 21. Russia is strong — too strong for NATO.

Does the European Union Have a Future?

Do you believe the EU has a future?

No. It is finished. The EU has no future, especially if Ukraine joins.

Do you think they will insist on integrating Ukraine?

They insist, but it will cost billions. The EU economies will collapse. Ukraine will destroy everything by joining.

But regarding Ukraine’s integration, there is no consensus in the EU.

Only Hungary and Slovakia are against. Everyone else supports it.

Will this be a catastrophe for the EU — economically or militarily?

Both. Because the EU will have to maintain one million Ukrainian soldiers. When this war ends with a truce between Moscow and Kyiv, the EU will begin arming the Ukrainian army again — for the next war, which may erupt in ten years. A third world war is possible, but not now — in five or ten years. Preparations are already underway. All these fake stories about Russian children with automatic rifles — this is part of that preparation.