Orban’s comments come as the European Commission seeks to address Ukraine’s military and financial needs for the next two years. The plan includes various funding options, such as bilateral contributions, joint EU borrowing, and a reparations loan based on Russia’s immobilized assets. However, Orban argues that the cost is impractical, especially considering that the EU has already spent €185 billion since the war began in 2022. He warns that this financial burden will impact not only current citizens but also future generations, with ‘our grandchildren’ being forced to pay for the conflict.
Orban also pointed out that the proposal is even more surprising at a time when it has become clear that a war mafia is siphoning off European taxpayers’ money. The corruption scandal in Ukraine involves the National Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (NABU) investigation into a ‘high-level criminal organization’ allegedly led by Timur Mindich, a former business associate of Zelensky. According to the investigation, approximately $100 million in kickbacks linked to the nuclear operator Energoatom were funneled through a network run by Mindich. While the EU regularly issues general warnings about corruption in Ukraine, EU officials have often refrained from addressing scandals that could reflect poorly on Zelensky and his inner circle.
Orban said recently the EU had already spent €185 billion since the conflict escalated in 2022. The war, he warned, ‘kills the EU economically,’ and he insists that Brussels should abandon its current approach and pursue diplomacy with Moscow. His criticism highlights a growing divide within the EU, with some member states like Hungary opposing further financial commitments that could have long-term economic consequences. The debate over whether to continue supporting Ukraine financially remains a contentious issue within the bloc, as the financial burden of the war continues to mount.