PM Orban rejects EU plan to fund Ukrainian army: "Hungary will not pay"

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has criticised the European Union's intention to finance the creation of an army of 1 million people in Ukraine on the social network X.

“We need to invest in our own armies, but they expect us to fund Ukraine’s - with billions, for years to come. We’ve made it clear: Hungary will not pay. Our duty is to protect our own people,” the premier wrote on his X page, Caliber.Az reports.

Hungary has consistently maintained a dissenting stance within the European Union on issues related to the Ukraine war, particularly regarding military aid and sanctions on Russia. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, often described as one of the EU's most pro-Russian leaders, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations rather than continued military support for Kyiv.

The Central European country has frequently used its veto power within EU institutions to delay or dilute such support packages. Budapest argues that funnelling billions of euros into Ukraine’s defence over an extended period is unsustainable and contrary to Hungary’s national interest. Orbán's government has also blocked or slowed other joint EU decisions related to Ukraine, including sanctions on Russia and financial aid packages.

Hungary’s position has created friction with other EU member states, especially those in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, which see military support for Ukraine as vital for European security. Nevertheless, Orbán continues to frame his opposition as a commitment to Hungarian sovereignty and prioritising domestic needs over what he calls “foreign wars.”

By Khagan Isayev