Trump, Orban and Pope's alliance could undermine support for Ukraine

The Independent reports on this following an interview with Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, the Hungarian Ambassador to the Vatican.

He stressed that the Pope plays an important role in supporting the deal, under which Trump is likely to force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia.

The Hungarian diplomat noted that during Trump's first presidency, political relations between Washington and Budapest "were at their peak," with the resolution of conflicts that threaten global security at the center of the discussion.

"Following the decision of the American electorate a few days ago, we really have good hope that Hungarian-American political cooperation will return to its peak: we share similar views on peace, illegal immigration and the protection of families. I believe there is a better chance than ever that peace will finally return to Ukraine after almost a thousand days of war," Habsburg-Lothringen said.

According to him, Pope Francis is likely to join the Trump-Orban alliance. He recently visited Hungary, where, according to Habsburg-Lothringen, the Pope seemed to confess his long-standing commitment to Hungary.

Now that they share a common view of ending the war as soon as possible, Budapest expects the Pope to support a peace deal that all other Western NATO allies oppose.

"For the last years, Hungary has been fighting a lonely fight for immediate ceasefire and peace in Ukraine. Being a direct neighbour and having a Hungarian minority inside Ukraine gives us a very clear vision. The only ally was the Holy Father Pope Francis, who spoke in the same direction and engaged in peace diplomacy. With the new President Trump, we have an ally who has clearly stated, even in his speech during election night, that he wanted to end the wars, which also means the one in Ukraine. This fills me with hope," the Hungarian ambassador to the Vatican said.

• On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, Pope Francis criticized U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump and advised American Catholics to vote for the one who is the "lesser evil."