Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, speaking on public Kossuth Radio’s Good Morning, Hungary programme, issued stark criticism of Ukraine’s EU candidacy and war conduct, warning that Hungary will not support the admission of a country where a Hungarian citizen is beaten to death during forced military conscription.
Orbán was referring to the recent death of a dual Hungarian Ukrainian man from Transcarpathia, reportedly killed by Ukrainian military recruiters. ‘This is not just about a tragic incident,’ he said. ‘This is about the nature of a war Hungary has no part in—and should not adopt by admitting Ukraine to the EU.’
The prime minister described Ukraine’s situation as a ‘meat grinder’ conflict, reminiscent of World War I, where battlefield victory is not possible. ‘This war can only be ended through ceasefire and peace talks,’ he insisted, positioning Hungary firmly in what he called the ‘peace camp’, in contrast to what he labelled the ‘war parties’ of Hungary’s opposition.
Orbán also pushed back against claims that Ukraine has met all EU accession criteria, citing ongoing corruption, lack of rule of law, and no clear plans for peace. ‘To say Ukraine is ready for EU membership from where we sit, right next to the border, is nonsense,’ he said. ‘If we accept Ukraine, we accept the war too.’
Turning to domestic issues, Orbán touted Hungary’s economic progress, particularly in manufacturing. He praised Audi’s Győr plant as a ‘Hungarian success story’, highlighting its integration with local education through dual training and its critical role in employment. ‘This is our factory,’ he said, noting that Audi is now one of Volkswagen’s most successful units globally.
He also outlined the government’s new housing initiative aimed at young people acquiring their first homes. ‘We’ve focused on helping families, but now we must help people before they start families,’ he explained, linking the programme to Hungary’s demographic strategy.
‘We’ve focused on helping families, but now we must help people before they start families’
On broader economic progress, Orbán pointed to breakthroughs in support for small businesses and tax-free family benefits, emphasizing rising child tax allowances. ‘We’ve delivered the breakthroughs we promised at the start of the year,’ he claimed.
In response to recent severe storms, Orbán defended the government’s emergency response. At one point, 400,000 people were without electricity. ‘People talk nonsense on Facebook, but thousands were out there fixing the real damage,’ he said, praising Hungary’s disaster-response teams as ‘world-class’.
In closing, Orbán reinforced that Hungary’s guiding principle remains national interest and peace. ‘We have to remain calm, clear-headed, and focused. This is not our war—and we should not let it become ours.’
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