Hungarian PM warns Ukraine’s EU membership would trigger war with Russia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has once again voiced strong opposition to Ukraine's integration into the European Union and NATO, warning that such moves could lead to a direct conflict with Russia.

Speaking on Hungary’s M1 television channel, Orbán said that pushing Ukraine toward EU and NATO membership would destabilise the delicate power balance between the West and Moscow, provoking a response from the Kremlin. He asserted bluntly, “Ukraine should not be admitted to the European Union, as this will lead to war.”

Orbán also stressed that any serious discussion of Ukraine’s accession to NATO would plunge the alliance into an “existential crisis,” arguing that such a step would be intolerable for member states.

“Even if all of Brussels turns upside down, Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO must not be allowed,” the Hungarian leader declared. He described Ukraine as a “buffer state” and said Hungary has no desire to share such a status. “We understand what that means. We ourselves were once the western edge of the Soviet Union, and we do not want to return to that position. A country’s house number cannot be changed,” Orbán added metaphorically.

Recalling his earlier recommendations, Orbán noted that a year ago he had urged Kyiv to pursue a truce with Moscow, which he claimed could have been reached under more favourable conditions. However, that did not happen, and now, according to him, Ukraine is “paying a high price” for continuing the war.

The Hungarian prime minister has long been a critic of Ukraine’s EU aspirations and of the bloc’s financial and military assistance to Kyiv. In 2025, Hungary held a referendum on Ukraine’s EU accession. Orbán announced in late June that 95% of Hungarian voters had opposed Ukrainian membership, with only 5% in favour.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded sharply, accusing Orbán of “doing very dangerous things” by blocking Kyiv’s path to the EU.

In addition to political and security concerns, Budapest has also raised alarms about the financial implications of Ukraine joining the EU. Back in April, Balázs Orbán — an adviser to the prime minister and his namesake — estimated that Ukraine’s full integration into the bloc would cost about €2.5 trillion over several years. That figure, he noted, is twelve times greater than the EU’s current annual budget.

By Tamilla Hasanova