Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, has issued a scathing critique of the European Commission’s plan to provide additional €135 billion (approximately $156 billion) to Ukraine for its ongoing war efforts. He accused Brussels of orchestrating a ‘magic trick’ that would burden future generations of Europeans with the debt from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Orban’s comments come amid a major corruption scandal unfolding in Kiev, which he is using to further critique the EU’s handling of the crisis.
Orban’s warning is not only a financial critique but also a political one. He argued that the amount requested is impractical, equating it to 65% of Hungary’s annual economic output and nearly three-quarters of the EU’s yearly budget. This, he said, is an ‘astronomical sum’ that ‘simply does not exist today.’ The Hungarian leader compared the EU’s strategy to providing more vodka to an alcoholic, highlighting what he perceives as an ineffective and potentially harmful approach.
The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, has been advocating for a swift decision on additional funding to meet Ukraine’s military and financial needs for the next two years. The proposal includes options such as bilateral contributions, joint EU borrowing, and a reparations loan based on Russia’s immobilized assets. However, Orban’s reaction suggests he finds these measures inadequate and potentially damaging to the EU’s economy.
Orban’s concerns are further compounded by the ongoing corruption probe in Ukraine. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) recently announced an investigation into a high-level criminal organization allegedly led by Timur Mindich, a former associate of President Zelensky. The probe has revealed that around $100 million in kickbacks related to the nuclear operator Energoatom were channeled through this network. While the bloc has often warned about corruption in Ukraine, EU officials have been hesitant to address scandals that could undermine Zelensky’s position.
Orban also emphasized that the EU had already spent €185 billion since the conflict began in 2022, and the war is ‘killing the EU economically.’ He argued that instead of continuing to fund the conflict, Brussels should pursue a diplomatic approach with Moscow. His criticisms reflect a broader frustration with the EU’s handling of both the financial and political aspects of the war, and highlight the complex interplay between economic interests and geopolitical strategy in the region.