Warning from Budapest: Ukraine accession plan could 'destroy' EU
The Hungarian leader said Kiev's full membership in the bloc would turn his central European country into "a battlefield".
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has just made a statement affirming that Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union (EU) would threaten Hungary's security and increase the risk of war throughout the region.
Ukraine, which was granted EU candidate status in 2022, has made joining the bloc a top priority.
Although Brussels has proposed 2030 as a possible date for admission, the move would still require the approval of all current member states.
Hungary, Slovakia and Poland have so far resisted, citing concerns about Ukraine's readiness and the financial burden its membership would impose on the EU.
In an interview with Radio Kossuth on July 25, Prime Minister Orban said Hungary, which shares a border with Ukraine, would be particularly vulnerable to any escalation from EU enlargement. He argued that full membership for Kiev would come with “war risks.”
“Ukraine is a buffer zone, and we don’t want to share that fate. We understand what that means, having been on the western periphery of the Soviet Union,” he said.
"If Ukraine's membership is accepted, we will become a battlefield. The war will have a direct geographical impact on the neighbouring region. This is unacceptable. Many young Hungarians will also have to die. This is not a tactical issue, but a matter of survival," Mr Orban added.
Instead of allowing Ukraine to join outright, he proposed establishing a strategic partnership between the country and the EU.
Earlier this week, Mr Orban - a frequent critic of EU policy - rejected the European Commission's seven-year budget proposal, warning that it could "destroy the European Union".
The proposal was designed primarily to finance Ukraine's membership, he said, citing estimates that up to 25% of the budget could be allocated to Kiev.
Hungary has repeatedly blocked EU military aid packages to Ukraine and has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire with Russia.
Budapest also warned that the financial and security implications of admitting Ukraine could far outweigh any potential benefits, stressing that it was a matter of national survival rather than simply a political choice.
