Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close EU ally of Putin, said the bloc should focus on its own competitiveness instead of funding Ukraine, amid ongoing tensions over EU-Ukraine policy and Hungary’s reliance on Russian imports
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that Europe should halt financial aid to Ukraine if it is serious about boosting its own economy, ahead of meetings with EU leaders.
“Don’t send your money to somebody else if you need it for your competitiveness, so don’t send the money to Ukraine,” AFP quoted Orban as telling reporters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally within the EU, Orban has long expressed skepticism about the bloc’s support for Ukraine.
According to AFP, citing official figures, by the end of 2025, the EU and its member states had provided around 177 billion euros ($210 billion) in military, economic, and political aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
In addition, the EU approved a 90-billion-euro loan to ensure Kyiv’s funding over the next two years, added the report.
The 27-member bloc has a combined GDP of nearly 18 trillion euros.
Hungary has often been a source of friction within the EU over Ukraine policy.
Although Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after the invasion, its accession talks have stalled due to vetoes from Orban.
Unlike most European countries, Hungary has also continued relying heavily on Russian imports rather than diversifying its sources since Moscow’s assault on Ukraine.
With inputs from agencies
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