Hungary Says Ukraine’s EU Membership Would Drag Bloc Into War

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would effectively draw the bloc into Russia’s war, an outcome Budapest “definitely does not want.”

Speaking in an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Feb. 17, Szijjártó argued that the war in Ukraine “is not our war” and that Hungary bears no responsibility for it.

“If Ukraine joins the European Union, the EU would become involved in Ukraine’s war. That is something we definitely do not want,” he said.

Szijjártó rejected statements by Ukrainian and European leaders that Kyiv is defending Europe against Russian aggression.

“We believe it is a major lie when both Ukrainian and European leaders claim that Ukraine is protecting Europe. That is not true,” he claimed, adding that Russia has not attacked any EU member state and that European countries are protected by NATO, not Ukraine.

He acknowledged that Ukrainians are “fighting heroically,” but insisted that the conflict remains Ukraine’s war alone.

“Since Ukraine is defending itself, not us, we do not owe Ukraine anything,” Szijjártó said, adding that Hungary rejects the argument that it is indebted to Kyiv.

The Hungarian foreign minister reiterated Budapest’s position that peace can only be achieved through negotiations and communication channels with Moscow.

Other Topics of Interest

Europe Needs to ‘Believe and Trust’ in Its Own Defense Capability

Former NATO policy planning director Fabrice Pothier urged European countries to prepare a “Plan B” as uncertainty grows over long-term US security commitments. He argued that Europe has the capabilities to defend itself if it builds the necessary political will and military capacity. Pothier also suggested Poland could do more to support Ukraine’s air defense, arguing that helping Ukraine defend itself strengthens security across Europe.

“That is why we have kept our channels with Russia open at all times,” he said, adding that Hungary has ensured that Hungarian taxpayers’ money is not sent to Ukraine.

Hungary’s government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has repeatedly taken a confrontational stance toward Ukraine and EU policy on Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Budapest has delayed or threatened to block multiple EU decisions, including financial assistance packages for Kyiv and successive rounds of sanctions against Russia. Hungarian officials have also opposed Ukraine’s accelerated path toward EU membership and have called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations with Moscow.

Orban has maintained close political and economic ties with the Kremlin and has frequently criticized what he describes as Brussels’ “pro-war” approach, arguing that sanctions harm European economies more than Russia.

Hungary remains one of the few EU member states that has consistently resisted deeper military and financial support for Ukraine, creating friction within the bloc as it seeks to maintain unity against Russian aggression.