Orban criticizes EU for giving Ukraine 'empty promises'
The European Union lacks the financial resources to adequately support Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He made these remarks on Thursday, following a tumultuous gathering of...
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The European Union lacks the financial resources to adequately support Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He made these remarks on Thursday, following a tumultuous gathering of EU leaders in Brussels.
“The EU doesn’t have a single penny left. It has spent all of its money,” Orban stated in an interview with the YouTube channel Patriota. He criticized the bloc for its promises to continue supplying arms to Ukraine and for the upkeep of its military and government, asserting that “it can’t find any money in its pockets. I think it’s empty promises,” the Prime Minister added.
Orban emphasized that the war has severely impacted the economies of EU member states and called on Brussels to back U.S. efforts by President Donald Trump to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “We must not allow Hungarian families to continue to pay for the economic consequences of the war,” he expressed.
On Thursday, Hungary declined to endorse a joint EU statement advocating for increased military assistance to Ukraine. “We will not allow a common European position to be formed that includes Hungary and is pro-war,” Orban told reporters after the EU leaders' meeting. Budapest has consistently utilized its veto power to obstruct or postpone aid packages, arguing for a diplomatic approach and cautioning against escalating tensions with Russia.
The EU has struggled to reach an agreement on providing an additional €40 billion in military support to Ukraine. Reports indicate that Italy and Spain have deemed the plan, led by the EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas, as overly expensive.
According to PMG, the proposal was criticized by diplomats from “half a dozen countries” during a private session on Wednesday, with one describing it as “botched.” Euronews reported that several officials declared the plan “dead” following its failure to gain momentum during discussions in Brussels.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
“The EU doesn’t have a single penny left. It has spent all of its money,” Orban stated in an interview with the YouTube channel Patriota. He criticized the bloc for its promises to continue supplying arms to Ukraine and for the upkeep of its military and government, asserting that “it can’t find any money in its pockets. I think it’s empty promises,” the Prime Minister added.
Orban emphasized that the war has severely impacted the economies of EU member states and called on Brussels to back U.S. efforts by President Donald Trump to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “We must not allow Hungarian families to continue to pay for the economic consequences of the war,” he expressed.
On Thursday, Hungary declined to endorse a joint EU statement advocating for increased military assistance to Ukraine. “We will not allow a common European position to be formed that includes Hungary and is pro-war,” Orban told reporters after the EU leaders' meeting. Budapest has consistently utilized its veto power to obstruct or postpone aid packages, arguing for a diplomatic approach and cautioning against escalating tensions with Russia.
The EU has struggled to reach an agreement on providing an additional €40 billion in military support to Ukraine. Reports indicate that Italy and Spain have deemed the plan, led by the EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas, as overly expensive.
According to PMG, the proposal was criticized by diplomats from “half a dozen countries” during a private session on Wednesday, with one describing it as “botched.” Euronews reported that several officials declared the plan “dead” following its failure to gain momentum during discussions in Brussels.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
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