Orban was defeated in Hungary, but Orbanism lives on
Viktor Orban’s stepping stone – the EU’s own illiberal tendencies and militarism – is still very much present.
The president seems unable to secure for Ukrainian people a gain that can compensate for a painful peace.
Viktor Orban’s stepping stone – the EU’s own illiberal tendencies and militarism – is still very much present.
A protracted conflict in the Middle East could help Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
What many in the West viewed as a strategic blunder is increasingly seen in Moscow as a costly but necessary gamble.
The louder the West talks about defeating Russia, the further peace in Ukraine moves out of reach.
Moscow is focused on winning in Ukraine; all else is a means to that end.
The US escalation against Caracas may be part of a larger realignment for a new world order.
The European political elite still holds onto the belief that Ukraine can somehow prevail on the battlefield if funded.
![German Bundestag President Julia Kloeckner welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ahead of their talks in Berlin, Germany December 15, 2025. [Lisi Niesner/Pool via Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-15T133649Z_1931956598_RC21HIAT1TRA_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-GERMANY-ZELENSKIY-1765808928.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
A weakened Ukrainian president can now easily be turned into a scapegoat for defeat.
![A security member is reflected in the window of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's car [File: Susana Vera/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-18T103655Z_276105199_RC2XYHANSTOK_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-SPAIN-PARLIAMENT-1763890337.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
The war can only end on Moscow’s terms. The West’s inability to accept this harsh reality keeps Ukraine bleeding.
