The comparison isn’t original, but analysts have often likened Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine to President Vladimir Putin’s personal Afghanistan, noting the similarities between the two conflicts.

Starting in 2001, right after the infamous Sept. 11 attacks, and concluding in 2021 with the sudden withdrawal of American forces, the Afghanistan war stands as the longest military engagement in American history.

Orbán, who has maintained friendly relations with Putin, echoed the Kremlin’s stance suggesting that Russia attacked Ukraine in an effort to prevent it from becoming a NATO member.

The Hungarian leader, however, defended himself against allegations of aligning with Putin. He insisted, “I’m not a pro-Putin man, I’m a pro-Hungarian guy.”

The real challenge, according to Orbán, lies in persuading the Russians to cease the war while they appear to be gaining the upper hand. This, he added, is the crux of the matter.

“Endless warfare, incessant conflict, no escape from the strife, consuming energy, human lives, funds, everything,” Orbán elaborated on his comparison. “It’s disrupting the framework of normal life for the European Union… We are in grave danger.”

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