Warning from Budapest: Plan to admit Ukraine could 'destroy' the EU.
The Hungarian leader said that Kyiv's full membership in the bloc would turn his Central European country into "a battlefield".
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has just issued a statement asserting that Ukraine's membership in 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 set joining the bloc as a top priority.
Although Brussels has proposed 2030 as a possible date for accession, this move still requires the approval of all current member states.
To date, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland remain in opposition, citing concerns about Ukraine's readiness and the financial burden that membership could place on the EU.
In an interview with Radio Kossuth on July 25, Prime Minister Orban said that Hungary, which shares a border with Ukraine, would be particularly vulnerable to any escalation from EU expansion. He argued that Kyiv's full membership would come with "the risks of war."
"Ukraine is a buffer zone, and we don't want to share that fate. We understand what that means, having once been on the western periphery of the Soviet Union," he said.
"If Ukraine's membership is granted, then we will become a battlefield. The war will directly affect our neighboring region geographically. This is unacceptable. Many young Hungarians will also have to sacrifice their lives. This is not a tactical issue, but a matter of life and death," Orban added.
Instead of allowing Ukraine to fully join, he proposed establishing a strategic partnership between the country and the EU.
Earlier this week, Orban – a frequent critic of EU policy decisions – rejected the European Commission's seven-year budget proposal, warning that it could "destroy the European Union".
He argued that the proposal was primarily designed to finance Ukraine's membership, citing estimates that up to 25% of the budget could be allocated to Kyiv.
Hungary has repeatedly blocked EU military aid packages to Ukraine and has consistently 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, emphasizing that this is a matter of national survival, not merely a political choice.
