Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has sharply criticized the European Union's continued financial support for Ukraine, labeling the governing system in Kyiv a "war mafia" and describing plans for further aid as "insane" amidst a major corruption scandal.
Minister Szijjártó voiced strong objections to further EU funding for Ukraine, citing a "corrupt system" at work in the country. He specifically criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to send an additional €100 billion, stating it was "unimaginable to send the money of the Hungarian people to a corrupt Ukrainian war mafia". He asserted that Hungarian funds must not be used for this purpose and demanded immediate financial clearance and accountability for previous aid before any new payments are considered.
The minister's comments follow a significant corruption probe in Ukraine involving an alleged $100 million kickback scheme intended to control contracting at the state nuclear agency, Energoatom. This scandal has caused fresh anger over pervasive graft, including within President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's inner circle. In response, the Ukrainian parliament dismissed two ministers implicated in the investigation, Justice Minister German Galushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk and called for broader measures to restore faith in the country's leadership.
Regarding the conflict, Szijjártó expressed a pessimistic view, stating that "the time is not on the side of Ukraine" and calling the idea of a Ukrainian victory an "illusion". He positioned the Hungarian government in support of US President Donald Trump's peace initiatives, urging Brussels to back these efforts to achieve a negotiated peace as soon as possible. He also condemned other European foreign ministers who praised Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
The Hungarian position contrasts with the broader EU stance, where other leaders have reiterated that Europe's security is at stake and that any peace plan must have Ukrainian and European agreement to be viable. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized support for a "long-lasting and just peace," while Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated he hopes restrictions would be placed on the aggressor, not the victim.