Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó sharply criticized the European Union’s Ukraine policy following the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 29 January, accusing Brussels of openly choosing war over peace and advancing new financial demands that would place an additional burden on European taxpayers.
Speaking after the meeting, Szijjártó said Ukraine, with the backing of Brussels, had presented further financial requests on top of what he described as a €1,500 billion package already being treated as a given. According to the minister, EU leaders are now speaking as an established fact about allocating €800 billion for the functioning of the Ukrainian state and €700 billion for its army, while additional demands involving ‘hundreds of millions and billions’ were also raised during the discussions.
Szijjártó stressed that Hungary would not agree to any of these proposals. ‘Forget the Hungarian people’s money,’ he said, adding that as long as a national government remains in power in Hungary, not a single penny will be sent to Ukraine under what he called ‘mad ideas’. He made clear that Hungary would not consent either to the €1,500 billion plan or to the newly announced additional financial demands.
The minister also warned that some proposals would fundamentally reshape EU spending priorities, including redirecting European Investment Bank resources away from European economic development projects—such as railways and roads—towards weapons purchases for Ukraine. He added that plans were also discussed to channel even more EU funds into Ukraine’s energy-support mechanisms.
Szijjártó further said it was stated openly in Brussels, for the first time, that the European Union is not ready for peace. According to him, ‘war fanaticism has completely taken over’ EU decision-making, with several participants acknowledging that many member states want war and reject peace.
He contrasted this approach with the efforts of US President Donald Trump to achieve peace, arguing that the biggest obstacle to those efforts is Brussels itself. ‘The decision to choose war was openly declared for the first time,’ he said.
Szijjártó also condemned plans to move the EU’s military training mission into Ukraine, warning that this would cross a red line and could lead to direct confrontation with Russia, with the risk of escalation into a third world war. He reiterated that Hungary would not support sending EU troops to Ukraine, banning cheap Russian energy, or approving further financial and military assistance.
‘As long as there is a national government in Hungary, we will say no to this madness,’ Szijjártó concluded, warning that Brussels is pushing for a prolonged war that would ultimately be paid for by European citizens and future generations.
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