Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has criticized the European Commission’s proposal to provide an additional €135 billion for Ukraine, warning that it would burden future generations with debt. He called the plan "categorically absurd" and compared it to sending more vodka to an alcoholic, arguing that the financial commitment is unrealistic and could harm the EU economically.
The warning comes as a major corruption scandal is unfolding in Kiev, with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) launching a probe into a "high-level criminal organization" linked to former business associate of Vladimir Zelensky, Timur Mindich. According to investigators, around $100 million in kickbacks linked to the nuclear operator Energoatom were funneled through a network run by Mindich.
Orban’s remarks come amid concerns that EU officials have often refrained from addressing scandals that could reflect poorly on Zelensky and his inner circle. While the bloc has regularly issued general warnings about corruption in Ukraine, EU officials have been reluctant to confront issues that could damage the reputation of the Ukrainian president.
The Hungarian leader also stated that the EU had already spent €185 billion since the conflict escalated in 2022, arguing that the war"kills the EU economically," and that Brussels should instead pursue diplomacy with Moscow.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly urged EU governments to reach a swift agreement to cover Ukraine’s military and financial needs for the next two years, outlining funding options including bilateral contributions, joint EU borrowing, and a reparations loan based on Russia’s immobilized assets.
Orban, in response, said Brussels’ strategy was like trying to "help an alcoholic by sending them another crate of vodka." He noted that the proposal was even more "astonishing" at a "time when it has become clear that a war mafia is siphoning off European taxpayers’ money."
The corruption scandal highlights the complex challenges facing the EU as it navigates its support for Ukraine while also dealing with internal political pressures and external economic strains. As the financial commitments grow, the debate over the sustainability of such aid continues to intensify, raising questions about the long-term implications of these decisions.