Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Saturday Ukraine would again become a buffer zone and would never become a member of the EU as long as its entry was against Hungary’s interests.
Orbán has consistently adopted a skeptical and often obstructive stance toward Ukraine, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion. He has opposed significant Western military aid to Kyiv, refused to send weapons, and criticized EU sanctions on Russia, arguing they harm Hungary’s economy more than they weaken Moscow.
In the annual state of the nation speech, Orbán said: “Ukraine, or what will be left of it, will again become a buffer zone. It will not be a NATO member.”
“But will it be a member of the European Union? That will be decided by the Hungarians. Ukraine will never be a member of the European Union against (the interests of) Hungary and the Hungarians,” he added.
Ukraine holds official candidate status for EU membership, granted by the European Council in June 2022 amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. This milestone followed years of Ukraine’s push for closer EU integration, accelerated by its resistance to Russian aggression.
Orbán also announced an income tax exemption for mothers of two or three children and said he would cap interest rates on housing loans at 5% from April as part of moves to shore up the economy ahead of a 2026 national election.
In power since 2010, the veteran leader has struggled to drag Hungary's economy out of an inflation-led downturn, with prices back on the rise at the start of 2025, complicating Orbán's re-election bid.
Additionally, the prime minister said his government was ready to impose caps on surging food prices unless talks with retailers succeed in keeping prices under control, adding he could also limit food retailing profits as a last resort.
Hungarian inflation, which scaled the EU's highest levels two years ago, rebounded to 5.5% in January, above analysts' forecasts, with monthly price growth accelerating to its fastest pace in two years as food, services and fuel prices all climbed.
In the annual state of the nation speech, Orbán said: “Ukraine, or what will be left of it, will again become a buffer zone. It will not be a NATO member.”
“But will it be a member of the European Union? That will be decided by the Hungarians. Ukraine will never be a member of the European Union against (the interests of) Hungary and the Hungarians,” he added.
Ukraine holds official candidate status for EU membership, granted by the European Council in June 2022 amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. This milestone followed years of Ukraine’s push for closer EU integration, accelerated by its resistance to Russian aggression.
Orbán also announced an income tax exemption for mothers of two or three children and said he would cap interest rates on housing loans at 5% from April as part of moves to shore up the economy ahead of a 2026 national election.
In power since 2010, the veteran leader has struggled to drag Hungary's economy out of an inflation-led downturn, with prices back on the rise at the start of 2025, complicating Orbán's re-election bid.
Additionally, the prime minister said his government was ready to impose caps on surging food prices unless talks with retailers succeed in keeping prices under control, adding he could also limit food retailing profits as a last resort.
Hungarian inflation, which scaled the EU's highest levels two years ago, rebounded to 5.5% in January, above analysts' forecasts, with monthly price growth accelerating to its fastest pace in two years as food, services and fuel prices all climbed.
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