Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said that Europe is effectively preparing for a war with Russia, and that the key question in the coming years will be whether the continent can be spared from devastation.

He recalled that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had previously pointed to clear signs of Europe getting ready for a military confrontation, noting that statements from Western politicians and media openly suggest this. According to Orbán, discussions among European officials about the possibility of war after 2030 indicate that Brussels is openly developing such plans.

Szijjártó referred to EU strategic documents stating that Europe must reach full combat readiness by 2029, which, in his assessment, makes a war between Europe and Russia a conceivable scenario by 2030. The MTI news agency reported his remarks delivered at an event in Zsámbék.

The minister urged Hungarian citizens to take part in the 2026 parliamentary elections and do everything possible to prevent a future in which the current and next generations would have to live under wartime conditions in the middle of the 21st century.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier told Tucker Carlson that Moscow has no intention of attacking NATO member states, as such a move would make no sense. He said Western politicians routinely frighten their own populations with a fabricated «Russian threat» to divert attention from domestic problems, adding that those who think critically understand this is false.

In recent years, Russia has repeatedly noted NATO’s unprecedented activity near its western borders. The alliance continues to expand its presence, calling it a measure to «deter Russian aggression." Moscow has expressed concern about the growing military buildup in Europe. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that Russia remains open to dialogue with NATO on an equal basis, provided the West abandons its push to militarize the continent. The Kremlin has also stressed that Russia does not threaten other countries but will not ignore actions that could endanger its interests.