Hungary’s Viktor Orbán praises Angela Merkel’s policy on Putin | MDMEETS Clips transcript

I have to ask you about your relationship uh to Angela Merkel. On the one hand around the migration topic, it was almost your uh antagonist. Conceptually uh the difference couldn't be bigger. On the other hand, you just received her here in Hungary and you said something like had Angela been in power and we had uh been working together this war with Putin never had happened. Can you explain that? Where is your many questions in the in one basket.

Okay. The first of all, I always respect the leader of the Germans. Germany is a big culture, big big big civilizational achievement with a big history. Lot of mistakes, but you know, each of them have mistakes. So I'm very much respectful to to the Germans and Germany as they are. They have elected leader, you know, I give the respect. That's the first. Even I disagree on all the issues because this is the fact. The second is I respected Angela Mecca for various reasons because he was a very smart and um and basically nice person you know in politics sometimes it count.

So I like to cooperate with him. We disagree on that. Even he she shouted on me anyway sometimes and that was not good more than my wife anyway. Uh but but >> that means a lot or >> sometimes happen but anyway I so so she she she's tougher than she looks like anyway. Uh but but at he she is an open-minded person intellectual uh never used just power because I'm a German I am powerful victors it's over. He always tried to say okay I'm ready to understand your argument I have my own let's let's discuss it. that attitude now it's not anymore there.

So with her it was far easier. The third thing is that we as intellectuals we identified where we agree and where we don't agree. And on migration it was obvious that never never in our life it's impossible. Then I identified that we will never agree on green deal. I was always again that kind of green deal and you to close the nuclear power station. I was always against it. On the third point, strategically, what is the interest of Europe?

What is the relation to Russia? I almost 100% agreed with her. There was moments at the European Council when she was the only one and me who argued on the same platform for peace and cooperation. So, I think I I follow what's going on in Germany. So, I'm not a stupid guy. I know what's going on. And now it's quite fashionable to say bad things on her. It's not fair. It's not fair. She did good things for Germany and good things for Europe and of course some bad things as well.

So to be to be to be correct or fair is important in politics. And on the Russian issue, he was she was right. If she would have been the chancellor at the moment when the war has broken out, no war, I would say I would because she would immediately call >> and one telephone call would have convinced him to stop. Not not but the one telephone is just the first one and then continue and then dialogue and dialogue. >> But what would be what would have been then the the reaction less military uh counter action or more or what would have been the concept behind it to convince him. >> Okay, let's let's use the the experiences she did well at the Minsk.

So the war erupted 2022 but the first real dangerous moment was 2014 and she managed very very well. Now she's criticized for it's not fair. It was a good deal. It was a masterpiece and we we have got close a decade uh to prepare ourselves for a confrontation or to management of the crisis. And and one more point I I try to be as uh as polite as I can to all the chancellors. You know, I cooperated with five chancellors of Germany and I was there.

I have seen I'm a witness how the Americans pushed the Germans into that war. So don't forget that it's it was not your choice. I don't know how it is interpreted now in Germany, but the war provancors resisted. >> But out of which agenda, why would the Americans have an interest in starting? >> Okay. Okay. So, so just just go back to the facts. So, the German chancellor fought for weeks and months not to let Germany to be involved into that war more and more and more.

But the Democratic administration of Biden pushed all of us, not me because I resisted and quit, but the Germans pushed into that war. Uh and I said to Schulz and to everybody on the table that guys if you accept the pressure coming from Biden and push you into the war there will be a moment will come when the Americans will pull out and we remain alone. Don't do that. This is exactly the situation where we are. So