He made this statement in an interview, a fragment of which he published on his X social media account.Orbán declared that Hungary offers Ukraine strategic cooperation that will be pragmatic, flexible, and based on mutual interests, not irreversible integration."Ukraine's EU membership would lead to the war being moved into the very heart of Europe, and our families should not face such a risk," the Hungarian Prime Minister stated.According to him, current times demand "measured decisions, not theatrical threats."Orbán also called Ukraine a "buffer state.""Today, Ukraine's fate is that it is a buffer state bordering Russia. We are not ready to accept such a fate. Hungarians have just escaped from this. We were also a buffer country during the Cold War. We were not part of the Soviet Union, but we were on the western perimeter of the Soviet Union, on the eastern perimeter of the Western world, but we were a buffer. We do not want to return to that position. Ukraine is in such a situation. It may be uncomfortable, it may not be good, and someone wants to break free from it, but the fact is that a country cannot change its address," he added.Hungary proposes strategic cooperation with Ukraine - pragmatic, flexible, and rooted in mutual interest - not irreversible integration. EU membership for Ukraine would drag the war into the heart of Europe, a risk our families should not have to face. These times call for calm… pic.twitter.com/IJyMUlIjfp— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 25, 2025 At the recent EU summit, 26 EU member states, excluding Hungary, expressed support for further accession talks with Ukraine and agreed to take note of the European Commission's assessment that Ukraine is ready to open the Fundamentals cluster.