Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends the autumn session of parliament in Budapest, Hungary, September 26, 2022. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Hungary should prepare for a prolonged war in neighbouring Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday, sharply criticising European Union sanctions imposed on Russia which he said have "backfired", driving up energy prices.

Iran PressEurope: Orban urged a ceasefire to end the war and said the sanctions against Russia were dealing a blow to Europe's economy.

Orban was reelected for a fourth consecutive term in April.

He told parliament it was no surprise that governments were falling in Europe, referring to the Italian election on Sunday following which Giorgia Meloni looks set to lead Italy's most right-wing government since World War Two.

"We can safely say that as a result of the sanctions, European people have become poorer, while Russia has not fallen to its knees," Orban said. "This weapon has backfired, with the sanctions Europe has shot itself in the foot."

"We are waiting for an answer, the entire Europe is waiting for an answer from Brussels on how long we will keep doing this," he said, adding it was also time to discuss the sanctions with the United States.

Orban, whose government is in talks with the European Commission to secure billions of euros in EU funds said his government would launch a "national consultation" asking Hungarians about sanctions. 

Orban said his government had revised its long-term energy strategy and aims to overhaul the power system and extend the lifespan of the Paks nuclear power plant, with a total of 32 big investments planned to be financed using EU funding.

"If the Brussels bureaucrats do not give us this money, which Hungary is eligible for, then we will get the necessary funds from other financial sources," Orban said, adding Hungary had started talks with the EU and "other international partners". He did not elaborate.

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