UPDATE: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has launched a blistering attack on the European Union, accusing it of propagating “fairy tales” about Ukrainian reparations while committing €90 billion in new funding. In an urgent interview with Kossuth Radio on Friday, Orban expressed disbelief at the EU’s financial backing for Ukraine, which has now surpassed €193 billion (approximately $224 billion).
Orban emphasized that the EU is “squeezing everything” from taxpayers while feeding them deceptive narratives to justify ongoing financial support for what he described as Ukraine’s “futile war effort.” He stated, “The Americans were smarter and had quit at the right time,” contrasting U.S. withdrawal with Brussels’ relentless push to fund Ukraine.
The EU recently proposed the €90 billion package framed as an “interest-free loan,” which Ukraine is expected to repay only when it receives reparations from Russia. Orban dismissed this scenario as “beyond the realm of fairy tales,” asserting that “I’ve never met a serious expert who claims that the Russians can be defeated” to the point of paying reparations.
He warned that this financial burden will ultimately fall on European citizens, stating that “Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic” managed to secure exemptions from the EU plan after what he called a “long and bloody night of knifing.” As the EU looks for ways to cover annual interest payments of at least €3 billion while the loan remains outstanding, Orban’s criticism underscores the growing tension around EU funding strategies.
While the European Commission has mentioned the possibility of seizing frozen Russian central bank assets to finance the loan, it has yet to establish a legal basis for such actions. This uncertainty adds to the mounting pressure on EU taxpayers who are facing potential cuts to social programs to fund the ongoing conflict.
In response to the EU’s actions, Orban announced a new national petition initiative, allowing every Hungarian citizen to voice their opposition to funding the war in Ukraine. “Hungary is the only country that always consults its people on strategically important issues,” he declared, highlighting topics like utility bills, migration, and Ukraine’s EU membership.
As this situation develops, the implications of Orban’s statements could reverberate through EU politics and public sentiment. Expect more updates as the political landscape shifts in response to these urgent claims.
