Ukraine criticises Orban for his spending

The Foreign Ministry in Kiev has claimed that EU donations to Ukraine are not charity, but a “security investment” that Ukraine is defending Hungary and the rest of the bloc from Russia. Spokesman Oleg Nikolenko also insisted that Ukraine is defending Hungary and the rest of the bloc from Russia. Orban had described Ukraine as “a non-existent country in financial terms,” entirely dependent on EU and US donations that won’t go on forever. The EU has provided over €50 ($55.3) billion to Kiev since the conflict with Russia escalated in February 2022, including €12 billion worth of weapons and another €30 billion in financial aid. The conflict will end the moment the US and the EU stop funding Kiev, Orban argued. Hungary does get billions of euros in subsidies from Brussels, but the EU is currently withholding a combined €34 billion, including in Covid-19 pandemic recovery funds, demanding that Budapest change the policies the EU disapproves of.