Orban's comments come after his decision to veto the proposal made by leaders from the other 26 EU member states to allocate €50 billion ($54.70 billion) from the EU budget to Ukraine.

During a news conference, Orban firmly stated, "I am convinced that to give Ukraine €50 billion from the EU budget for five years... That's a bad decision." His stance has raised concerns among other EU leaders, who are expected to explore alternative options to overcome Hungary's resistance at an emergency summit scheduled for February 1.

This disagreement follows the EU's suspension of billions of euros in funding to Hungary, citing concerns about the erosion of democratic checks and balances under Orban's leadership. However, prior to the recent EU Summit, a significant portion of the funds were released, signaling some progress in resolving the issue.

During the summit, Orban temporarily left the room to avoid blocking Ukraine's formal opening of accession talks with the EU. However, he returned and voted against the proposal to source Ukraine's assistance from the EU budget. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed optimism that alternative avenues could be explored to channel EU funds to Kyiv and believed that Orban's stance might be swayed in future discussions.

It is worth noting that Hungary has maintained cordial relations with Russia, leading many to view Orban's resistance to EU funding to Ukraine as a reflection of this relationship. Hungary remains the only EU state engaging in significant projects with Russia, even amidst Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

As the EU leaders prepare for the emergency summit, finding a resolution that satisfies all parties involved remains a key objective. The future of Ukraine's prospects for EU integration hangs in the balance, with Hungary's criticisms adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing negotiations.