BUDAPEST – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that Brussels could compel EU member states to provide financial support for Ukraine if the United States reduces its aid.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking at a Fidesz party meeting on Wednesday, Orban claimed that as the U.S. shifts its priorities under President Donald Trump, the EU will push its members—Hungary included—to fill the funding gap.
“The Americans are withdrawing from financing Ukraine, and Brussels will want to make Europeans, including us, Hungarians, pay for this,” Orban stated, according to Magyar Nemzet.
His remarks come amid concerns that Trump’s administration will cut back on financial and military assistance to Ukraine. The White House has recently demanded that Kiev repay U.S. aid received since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, while also urging European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for future support.
Orban claimed that Brussels is already discussing a proposal that would require Hungary to contribute 200 billion forints ($520 million) annually to Ukraine. He warned that Hungarian farmers would suffer, as EU subsidies could be redirected to Kiev instead.
“No preconditions have been given for Ukraine’s EU membership, so it should be out of the question. Budapest will never agree to this idea,” he stressed.
Orban, a staunch critic of Brussels’ approach to the Ukraine war, reaffirmed Hungary’s opposition to EU-led financial and military assistance for Kiev. He instead welcomed U.S. diplomatic efforts, including the recent Russia-U.S. negotiations in Riyadh.
“Hungary, as before, supports the ceasefire and peace. Peace can only be good for us—energy prices will fall, trade will revive, and the economy will strengthen,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that EU officials are exploring alternative ways to continue funding Ukraine if U.S. assistance declines. The Polish Press Agency revealed that Brussels is considering a new military aid fund for Kiev, financed partly through frozen Russian assets and partly through voluntary contributions from EU states based on their national income.
As debates continue over Ukraine’s EU membership and future financial assistance, Hungary remains firm in its opposition to what it sees as Brussels’ attempts to impose financial burdens on member states.
