The whole of the Union would win by ending the conflict, said Francesca Donato, an independent Italian MEP, to Magyar Hírlap

Francesca Donato, an Italian-born independent right-wing representative of the European Parliament, spoke to Magyar Hírlap about how she sees Hungary's ceasefire offer in relation to the European Union. He also mentioned the political trends that can be observed within the Union and that span the entire world.

– What is the plan supported by the European Union (EU) for the Hungarian ceasefire offer?

- Based on the decisions made so far by the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament, the only possible scenario for the Ukrainian side is expected after the complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Russian army from Ukrainian territory, in addition to the recognition of the border lines fixed by the current international agreements. This is considered an unrealistic proposal for the Russian government, because they took possession of the Donbass and other Ukrainian territories in order to separate them from Kyiv. I think this clearly shows that the Union wants to promote the continuation of the war rather than its termination.

– How was the international reception of the Hungarian ceasefire offer?

– The EU institutions reacted coldly and indifferently to Viktor Orbán's proposal, as they openly hoped that he would be defeated in the last elections. For years, the prime minister's positions have not been accepted by either the committee or the parliament, and his decision on military neutrality in connection with the war in Ukraine shattered the monolithic anti-Russian front of European countries, to the great disappointment of the EU leaders.

- What can be the interest of Hungary with the creation of the Ukrainian-Russian ceasefire?

- Not only Hungary led by Viktor Orbán, but the European Union as a whole would gain by ending this war, as there is a great danger of the conflict spreading from the Ukrainian border to neighboring countries, and the escalation using more destructive weapons affecting the surrounding European territories would become uncontrollable becomes All this is compounded by the humanitarian crisis, as a result of which millions of refugees will flock to Europe to seek refuge in Norway, for example, from the forced recruitment ordered by Zelensky.

– Would the Budapest ceasefire agreement proposed by the Hungarian Prime Minister have an effect on the international perception of Hungary?

- Naturally. If Viktor Orbán's peace proposal is accepted and a cease-fire is concluded, Hungary's role as a mediator between the European Union and Russia would be recognized internationally. Frankly speaking, I believe that the Prime Minister of Hungary is the only European leader who has tried to maintain a wise and prudent balance in this crisis situation.

This is precisely why it can assume the role of a recognized and reliable negotiator for Russia - provided that the Union gives it this mandate. If, on the other hand, the committee and European politics continue to obstruct all negotiation opportunities as they have done so far, the outcome of the crisis will become unpredictable, even the most dire predictions may come true. European citizens are very disappointed with the attitude of their national governments and the European Parliament. They want to move toward peace, not along the lines set by Biden and the committee. Taking this into account, the popularity of Viktor Orbán and those who support the peace negotiations can only increase from here.

– What are the possible outcomes of the ceasefire concluded in Budapest with regard to Russia, Ukraine and the European Union?

- This would undoubtedly be a huge political and diplomatic achievement on the part of the Hungarian government. I believe that the support of Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, during the re-election of Viktor Orbán shows that the American Republican front would also be willing to support this solution. With the midterm elections in October, Republicans are likely to regain their majority in Congress.

At the same time, the German and Austrian governments have also expressed that they do not agree with the entire Russian gas embargo, so I think other EU countries are already tending towards more neutral positions. The war caused obvious damage to the European economy. As for me, I would like to meet President Orbán in person and offer him my support for his negotiation proposal, and the majority of Italian people agree with that.

Author: Annamária Csókási. In our opening picture, Francesca Donato is an Italian independent MEP. Photo: European Parliament

Source: magyarhirlap.hu