PM Orbán argued that Brussels has failed to present a single credible reason why Ukraine should be admitted, whereas the Hungarian people have already delivered a decisive answer. “They want us to adopt Ukraine, and with it, we adopt the war,” he said. The prime minister emphasized that countries geographically closer to Ukraine, like Hungary, would face the gravest consequences—the rising threat of war and economic destabilization.
The prime minister warned that under the current accession scenario, Hungarian household gas bills would rise 3.5 times and electricity bills would double. “Simply put, I don’t understand how they can even ask for this,” he said. PM Orbán stressed that such drastic increases would severely undermine cost of living and employment stability, pointing out that energy costs are foundational to economic health.
He also expressed concern over Brussels’ push to eliminate the purchase of Russian energy, stating that the proposed embargo would devastate the Hungarian energy sector and lead to widespread unemployment and wage cuts. “We’ve seen what this looks like—this was Hungary before 2010,” he said, referencing an era of economic hardship.
The prime minister reaffirmed Hungary’s firm opposition to any forced alignment with EU policies that threaten national sovereignty. “They cannot bypass us,” he said, noting that EU enlargement must reflect the will of European citizens, many of whom—according to PM Orbán—would vote against Ukraine's accession if given the chance.
Turning to domestic concerns, PM Orbán also addressed the situation in agriculture, particularly the need to expand irrigation infrastructure. He said the government is working to triple irrigated farmland to help counteract drought risks, and that targeted support will protect farmers from bearing full market costs.
On foreign influence, the prime minister criticized attempts by wealthy foreign actors to sway Hungarian society, stating that only governments aligned with Hungarian national interests should lead the country. He also reaffirmed his government’s resistance to foreign pressure, particularly around cultural issues like Pride events and early childhood sensitization programs, which he said were already rejected by millions in a national referendum.
Rounding out the interview, PM Orbán announced a new housing program offering fixed-rate, low-interest loans for first-time buyers. This, he said, is part of a broader effort to enhance family support policies, including tax benefits and increased allowances, which will begin to take effect in August.
“Our task is to defend the country,” PM Orbán concluded, framing Ukraine’s EU accession not as a question of diplomacy but as a direct threat to Hungary’s economic and social stability.