Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has issued a strong warning about the potential economic consequences of Ukraine’s rapid accession to the European Union. Speaking on Kossuth Radio on Friday, Orbán said every Hungarian must understand the stakes before the 2025 elections, declaring that admitting Ukraine could ‘destroy the Hungarian economy.’
He stressed that the government remains committed to its tax exemption and business development programmes and plans to expand factory construction efforts. Next week’s cabinet meeting is expected to address lowering prices on industrial goods and increasing support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Orbán pointed to Europe’s economic stagnation—particularly in Germany and Austria—as a major factor behind Hungary’s own slowdown, but cautioned against focusing solely on the war in Ukraine. ‘We must understand the causes,’ he said, ‘but if we only talk about the war, we lose our ability to act.’
He reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to achieving its 2025 economic targets, including Europe’s most ambitious tax cut programme. Among the goals is a long-term plan where families with two children would pay no personal income tax.
Despite economic headwinds, the government will not scale back the Demján Sándor programme supporting SMEs. Orbán claimed Hungary has lost billions of euros due to the war and questioned the wisdom of EU financial support for Ukraine. ‘The money sent to Ukraine could be spent at home,’ he said, criticizing plans by Brussels to fund the Ukrainian military and calling EU-wide loans for Ukraine unsustainable.
The prime minister attacked the European People’s Party—of which Hungary’s opposition Tisza Party is a member—, saying its support for Ukraine’s accession would harm Hungary. He urged citizens to speak up and participate in the ‘Voks 2025’ referendum on the issue.
Orbán also accused Brussels of favouring foreign corporations and recalled that, upon Hungary’s own EU entry, many funds were diverted to foreign firms. He argued that unless Hungarian interests are prioritized, the country will lose out economically. ‘If it paid off for us, we’d support Ukraine’s accession—but it doesn’t,’ he stated.
He blamed opposition politicians, especially Tisza MEP Kinga Kollár, for obstructing the repatriation of EU funds to Hungary, accusing her of working against the national government for political gain. ‘She works every day to prevent Hungarians from accessing what is rightfully theirs,’ Orbán stated, adding that this serves Brussels’ goal of imposing a puppet government on Hungary.
In contrast, Orbán highlighted Hungary’s lower household energy costs compared to neighbouring countries and reiterated that the government will continue expanding industrial capacity and supporting retirees with targeted measures like food VAT refunds.
Looking ahead, Orbán stated that the 2026 budget would be ‘anti-war’ and focused on peace, ensuring that none of Hungary’s core economic goals would be sacrificed. ‘If we do all this,’ he concluded, ‘2025 will be a success.’
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