Hungary claims Ukraine will ‘suck up every euro’ as EU member

(MENAFN) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reiterated his opposition to Ukraine’s potential EU membership, warning that admitting Kiev into the bloc would place a severe financial burden on European nations. He accused Brussels of pushing for Ukraine’s accession despite the significant economic cost.

Writing on Facebook on Tuesday, Orban claimed that EU leaders are using Ukraine’s candidacy as a political maneuver amid an unwinnable conflict, describing it as a costly venture that would divert resources away from European citizens. “Ukraine would suck up every euro, forint, and zloty meant for European families, farmers, and industry,” he stated, urging Hungarians to voice their opinions in a nationwide consultation on the issue.

Orban pledged to shield both Hungary and the EU from what he called Brussels’ “fever dream” of granting Ukraine membership.

Ukraine has declared joining the EU and NATO as strategic goals since the 2014 Western-backed change of government in Kiev. In 2022, the EU granted Ukraine candidate status following the escalation of hostilities with Russia. However, critics argue this decision prioritized symbolism over real concerns about governance, corruption, and rule of law.

Russia has cited Ukraine’s NATO ambitions as a major factor behind the conflict and has also accused the EU of shifting from an economic to a militarized alliance akin to NATO.

As Hungary continues to block unanimous EU decisions on Ukraine-related matters, other EU leaders are reportedly exploring options to bypass Budapest’s veto. These include shifting to qualified majority voting or reclassifying certain decisions—such as arms transfers or sanctions—as not requiring unanimous consent.

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