Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sees himself in a fight with the West, which wants to impose the wrong sanctions policy and foreign values on his country.
"The power, the performance, the reputation and the ability to act in Western civilization are on the wane," the right-wing politician said on Saturday in front of thousands of supporters in the Romanian spa town of Baile Tusnad.
Orbán has governed the EU country of Hungary since 2010.
Orbán is in conflict with the European Union over the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law.
Several procedures are currently underway against Hungary, including one under the new Rule of Law Mechanism, which could lead to the withdrawal of EU funding.
Orbán accused the EU of “Brussels” being run by a “host” of American investor and democracy promoter George Soros.
The Hungarian-born billionaire and Holocaust survivor has been the enemy of the right-wing government in Budapest for years.
"They should live how they want, but they should also let us live how we want," Orbán demanded, alluding to an EU infringement procedure over a Hungarian law that restricts information rights about homosexuals and transsexuals.
Orbán also criticized the West for ignoring Russia's security claims ahead of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
"With US President (Donald) Trump and German Chancellor (Angela) Merkel, this war would never have happened," he said, apparently guided by the assessment that these politicians - like him - would have stood for a more pro-Russian policy.
At first, Romanian nationalists tried to disrupt Orbán's speech.
They shouted: "Transylvania will remain Romanian soil forever!" The Romanian police took them away.
Baile Tusnad (Hungarian: Tusnadfürdö) is located in a compact Hungarian settlement area in Transylvania.
Until 1918 the region had belonged to Hungary.
The Fidesz party has held a summer academy in Baile Tusnad for more than three decades.
Orbán, who is a Fidesz co-founder, traditionally gives the closing speech there.