In an interview on public Kossuth Radio, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed stark concerns regarding the European Union’s current approach to the war in Ukraine. Speaking from Brussels following the latest EU summit, Orbán highlighted a growing divide not only between Hungary and other member states but also between the United States-led peace-supporting nations and the 26 EU member states advocating for continued military assistance to Ukraine. A key topic of the interview was also Ukraine’s potential accession to the European Union, which PM Orbán warned would have dire economic consequences.
According to Orbán, while the United States is now working towards peace, the majority of European leaders have chosen to develop counterstrategies designed to prolong the conflict. ‘Instead of standing for peace, the others decided Ukraine must continue the war,’ he remarked, reiterating Hungary’s consistent position that peace is essential, particularly given the unsustainable strain on the Hungarian economy.
Orbán criticized the rationale behind the EU’s collective stance, calling it economically reckless. ‘If this continues, we will lose every last penny—even the shirts off our backs,’ he warned, predicting severe financial repercussions for Europe. The Hungarian Prime Minister noted that even within NATO, peace-oriented nations like the United States and Turkey hold significant sway, and he asserted that no substantial financial aid would arrive from that quarter to sustain the conflict.
‘If this continues, we will lose every last penny—even the shirts off our backs’
He further expressed alarm at Ukraine’s military ambitions, claiming that Kyiv seeks to maintain an army of 800,000 troops with European financing. According to Orbán, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has even proposed that the EU support a post-war Ukrainian army numbering one million soldiers, in addition to the broader financial maintenance of the Ukrainian state. The Prime Minister underscored that these costs, alongside the EU’s own defence enhancements and the expenses tied to Ukraine’s potential accession to the EU, are untenable. ‘There is simply no money for these objectives,’ he said.
Orbán issued a stern warning that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union would have devastating consequences, not only for Hungary but for the entire European economy. Referring to the near-collapse of Hungary’s agricultural sector following the partial opening of trade between Ukraine and the EU, he identified agriculture as the most endangered industry should full membership proceed. Additionally, he cited security concerns, highlighting the significant number of armed individuals in Ukraine and the potential risks of allowing unrestricted movement into Hungary.
He advocated for a consultative referendum on Ukraine’s EU membership, stating that Hungary cannot accommodate the potential influx of hundreds of thousands of guest workers the accession would likely entail. According to Orbán, Brussels is currently calculating the combined costs of financing Ukraine’s military and government, rearming Europe, and absorbing the burdens of Ukrainian EU membership. ‘The end result of these calculations will show that the EU simply cannot afford it,’ he asserted, suggesting that even Brussels may find Hungary’s veto advantageous in the long run.
The Prime Minister also called for national unity and public consultation in the face of these challenges, warning of additional threats to domestic stability. He accused Brussels of seeking to eliminate Hungary’s utility price reduction scheme, arguing that Hungarian families could not withstand the resulting financial pressure, which he estimated at an extra 500,000 forints per year per household.
Orbán further alleged that foreign financial interference is shaping public discourse in Hungary, pointing to American, EU, and Soros network funds funnelling resources into organizations aiming to influence Hungarian policy. He described these financial streams as tools of external control, stating: ‘Those who pay the piper call the tune.’
Concluding the interview, Orbán reflected that while foreign influence in Hungary is not new, the present transparency of these interventions is particularly striking. ‘It is a familiar story, but now we are confronting the reality without any disguise,’ he opined.
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