Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declined to support Ukraine's membership in the European Union, highlighting significant reservations about the EU's collective stance on the matter.

At a recent EU summit in Brussels, Orban stated that he could not endorse a common European position that takes a pro-war stance.

He emphasized the need for Europe to be convinced to support peace efforts rather than participate in the conflict.

Orban claimed that Hungarian families have suffered economically due to the war, noting that they have incurred losses amounting to approximately 2.5 million forints per household, totaling around 6.2 million euros over the past three years.

He asserted that it is essential to halt the economic impacts of the war on Hungarian families.

In his remarks, Orban expressed strong criticism toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who participated in a debate preceding the vote on the EU's common statement regarding Ukraine.

Orban described Zelensky's demeanor as unfriendly and suggested that the Ukrainian leader was confused about his role, behaving as if Ukraine were already a member of the EU, thus adopting a tone that he deemed inappropriate.

Addressing the prospect of Ukraine's EU accession, Orban stated that any pressure from Zelensky for support is futile.

He highlighted that the opinion of the Hungarian public on this matter must first be understood before he could endorse Ukraine's membership.

The EU Council, during the summit, reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine, with 26 leader endorsements, excluding Hungary.

This decision echoes a previous EU Council meeting where leaders adopted conclusions concerning Ukraine without Hungary’s agreement, as Orban had previously refrained from signing a statement on military and financial support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia.