Hungary does not and will not support Ukraine’s membership in the European Union because it would bring the war into Europe and take the money of Hungarians out to Ukraine

Hungary does not and will not support Ukraine's membership in the European Union because it would bring the war into Europe and take the money of Hungarians out to Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote on Facebook on Tuesday evening.

The Prime Minister recalled that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had "once again attacked Hungary and the Hungarian government at a conference in Brussels with a variety of accusations."

"So let us look at the facts. As for support: Hungary has taken in refugees from Ukraine, there have been more than 14 million border crossings from Ukraine since the beginning of the war, we operate three Ukrainian schools in our country, we have taken care of wounded soldiers and children, hosted more than ten thousand Ukrainian children at camps in Hungary, trained medical staff, rebuilt schools and kindergartens in Ukraine, and last year we were Ukraine's largest electricity supplier," the Prime Minister listed the examples.

Mr Orbán drew attention to the fact that so far, we had spent a total of 200 million euros on humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians. "It is unfortunate if this means nothing to President Zelenskyy," he added.

"I would also draw the President's attention to the fact that the support Ukraine receives from the European Union includes Hungarian money as well. We are not happy about it, but it is still a fact," the Prime Minister observed.

The Prime Minister wrote in continuation: "I must reject the suggestion that Hungary owes Ukraine anything. Ukraine does not defend Hungary from anyone or anything. We did not ask for such a thing, and we never will. The security of Hungary is guaranteed by our national defence capabilities and by NATO, of which Ukraine is (fortunately) not a member."

"Finally, I would like to remind the President that the decision on a country's accession to the European Union is made by the member states, unanimously. This means that every member state has the sovereign right to support or oppose the admission of a new member. Hungary does not and will not support Ukraine's membership in the European Union, because it would bring the war into Europe and take the money of Hungarians out to Ukraine," Mr Orbán wrote.

We believe the Union should enter into a strategic partnership with Ukraine without EU membership. "This is our proposal. We will stick to this position in the future, as we have every right to do so," the Prime Minister wrote in conclusion.