Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives to take part in the Informal EU Leaders Retreat at the Alden Biesen Castle, central Belgium on February 12, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / POOL / AFP)Europe should stop sending money to Ukraine if it is serious about reviving its economy, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday as he headed into talks with EU leaders. “Don’t send your money to somebody else if you need it for your competitiveness, so don’t send the money to Ukraine,” Orban told reporters. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in the EU, the nationalist premier, has consistently expressed scepticism about the European Union’s support for Ukraine. Hungary has frequently been a thorn in the side of EU leaders over Ukraine.

Source: Punch February 12, 2026 11:03 UTC