European heads of state discussed international security challenges at the meeting of the European political community in Budapest on Thursday.
The President of Ukraine also participated in the meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
The host of the summit, the Prime Minister of Hungary Victor Orbán has emphasized that the world is in a new position now that the US president has been elected Donald Trump and therefore Europe also has to face a new reality.
The Hungarian Prime Minister had a conversation with Trump before the meeting. He said in X that he and Trump have “big plans for the future”.
Orbán opposes the armed support of Ukraine and hopes that Ukraine and Russia will make peace.
The Hungarian Prime Minister has also stated that Europe cannot maintain the current military and financial support that Ukraine needs without the United States.
On different lines
Finland was represented at the Budapest meeting by the Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (kok).
He called for strong unity from Europe in a tense international situation, as well as a strong will to continue supporting Ukraine, because the situation could become more difficult.
“Europe must take greater responsibility for supporting Ukraine. We also need to strengthen our own defense – quickly,” Orpo emphasized.
According to the Prime Minister of Finland, Victor Orbán, who was the host of the meeting, did well, and Orpo had no remarks to make about his actions or speeches.
Finnishing with wallpaper
On Thursday, Orpo had to explain to the international media on duty at the Puskas Stadium meeting place “Finnishing” or the Finnish model that has been passed on to Ukraine.
Politico magazine reported on Monday that the German Chancellor Olaf Scholzin the cabinet has considered a model in which Ukraine should “Finnish” i.e. give up the territories occupied by Russia and remain outside of NATO.
This doesn’t work for an orphan. He explained to the international media what kind of Finnish model suits Ukraine.
“We are a member of NATO, we are a member of the EU. We support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. This is the model that Ukrainians are fighting for,” Orpo said.
He reminded other heads of state of the growing threat from Russia and said that he emphasized how important EU expansion is.
“It’s a security issue, but it’s also an economic issue,” Orpo said.