Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday, Feb. 11, said Brussels and Kyiv had effectively “declared war” on Hungary following a report outlining a plan to fast-track Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and address Budapest’s opposition.
In a post published after a Politico report on Tuesday, Orban claimed that EU officials and Ukraine were seeking to admit Kyiv to the bloc as early as 2027 and to neutralize Hungary’s veto power.
“The Brusselian elite’s official publication, Politico, has published Brussels’ and Kyiv’s latest war plan,” Orban wrote on X. “This new plan is an open declaration of war against Hungary.”
Politico reported that EU officials are discussing a model that could allow Ukraine to gain partial membership rights before completing all required reforms, as well as possible ways to overcome Hungary’s resistance, including political pressure and procedural tools within the bloc.
Orban accused Brussels of disregarding “the decision of the Hungarian people” and attempting to remove his government ahead of Hungary’s April elections. He claimed EU leaders wanted Hungary’s opposition Tisza Party to come to power because it would not block Ukraine’s accession.
Orban has repeatedly opposed Ukraine’s EU membership bid and has used Hungary’s veto power to delay decisions requiring unanimity among the bloc’s 27 member states. EU officials have been exploring mechanisms to limit Budapest’s ability to obstruct key policy decisions if necessary.
Ukraine formally applied for EU membership shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and has pushed for a 2027 accession timeline as part of broader security guarantees tied to a potential peace settlement.
On Jan. 23 Orban responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his criticism of Europe at the World Economic Forum in Davos, accusing him of personally targeting Hungary and European leaders while demanding more aid. Orban said Hungary will not fund Ukraine’s war efforts.
In January, Orban also launched a petition that asks voters to oppose any further contributions from Hungary to support the defense of Ukraine. The mail-in campaign, which raises concerns about EU funding for Kyiv and Ukraine’s membership bid, allows responses until March 23.
