The European Union does not have the financial means to continue supporting Ukraine, warned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in an interview with Radio Kossuth on Thursday. He stated that the EU’s budget would be overextended if he continued to implement all his planned initiatives, including a further aid package for Kiev, the financing of Ukraine’s EU membership application and an increase in European defense spending.
Orbán made this statement after vetoing the EU’s proposed military aid package of 30 billion euros at an emergency meeting of the European Council on the same day. Despite the support of the other 26 EU state leaders for the proposal, Orbán argued that it would practically give a green light to the continuation of the conflict.
In the interview, the prime minister outlined the growing financial burdens that would befall the EU if it did not change its course. Firstly, he said, the EU would be responsible for financing the Ukrainian military, as “the Ukrainians do not have a single cent.” Secondly, Brussels would have to pay the Ukrainian government, including salaries and pensions, as “Ukraine as a state does not function.” And thirdly, the EU would have to finance Ukraine’s membership application, without clear estimates of the cost. Orbán also referred to the EU’s ReArm Europe initiative, which would require up to 800 billion euros for defense spending.
“If I add all this up, there is not that much money in the EU. So, it will not work. I think the conclusion is that we cannot afford it” Orbán stated, urging EU leaders to reconsider their stance.
The support package for Ukraine is expected to be on the agenda at the next meeting of EU leaders at the end of the month. However, Orbán hinted that even then, acceptance would be unlikely, as more nations began to realize that there were no available funds.
Orbán’s remarks coincided with the growing concern of EU leaders about the consequences of the recent change in Ukraine policy by US President Donald Trump. Media reports indicated that the White House had frozen new military aid to Ukraine, a step Trump had warned of for weeks. Additionally, he had urged European nations to take on a greater responsibility for Ukraine’s war efforts and their own defense and repeatedly stated that he wanted the conflict to end as soon as possible so he could focus on domestic politics.