As the U.S. election looms, Russian and European leaders are casting doubt on any major shift in international relations, regardless of the outcome. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed skepticism about any positive change from Washington, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban suggested that a Trump victory could force Europe to rethink its stance on the war in Ukraine.
Medvedev, now a senior security official, dismissed the notion that Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election would alter Moscow’s diplomatic or security landscape. “The elections will not change anything for Russia,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app, claiming both American candidates support a bipartisan consensus aimed at weakening Russia.
Meanwhile, Orban, an outspoken critic of European military aid to Ukraine, indicated that a Trump presidency might trigger a shift in Europe’s approach. “If there will be a pro-peace president in America … then Europe cannot remain pro-war,” Orban said on Sunday. He made clear his support for Trump, suggesting that the former president’s “pro-peace” stance could pave the way for a negotiated settlement in Ukraine.
Orban has long positioned himself as an outlier in European politics, voicing strong opposition to Western military aid for Ukraine and aligning himself with leaders who favor a peace settlement over ongoing conflict. This view stands in stark contrast to the prevailing sentiment across much of the EU, which continues to back Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. Orban’s support for Trump reflects a broader alignment in ideology, as both leaders have publicly criticized extensive military support for Kyiv and called for negotiations.
The statements from both Medvedev and Orban underscore the global stakes of the U.S. election. Medvedev’s pessimism and Orban’s hopeful tone reveal just how differently Moscow and Budapest view the potential of a Trump victory. While Russian leaders appear resigned to bipartisan opposition from the U.S., Orban sees a possible path for change if Washington shifts to a “pro-peace” administration. As Europe grapples with its role in the Ukraine crisis, Orban’s remarks highlight the potential for new diplomatic fault lines, depending on the direction America chooses.
Sources for this article include: Reuters, Telegram posts from Dmitry Medvedev, statements from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
