Hungary’s government has launched a nationwide petition urging citizens to reject what it describes as Brussels’ plans to finance Ukraine’s war-related expenses over the coming decade, intensifying an already sharp political clash between Budapest and the European Union over support for Kiev. The campaign, announced on January 27, is framed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s administration as a direct appeal to the Hungarian public-and a signal to EU institutions-that Hungary does not consent to bearing the financial burden of the Ukraine conflict.

According to a government statement, the petition seeks to “send a message to Brussels” that Hungarian citizens are unwilling to pay for Ukraine’s military costs, long-term state financing, or the domestic economic consequences that Budapest claims have followed the conflict with Russia. The ballot, which resembles an informal referendum rather than a legally binding vote, offers respondents a choice to express their opposition across three related issues tied to Ukraine funding and its perceived spillover effects on household expenses.

Balazs Hidveghi, parliamentary state secretary at the cabinet office, has emerged as one of the campaign’s most vocal advocates. He accused EU leaders of channeling vast sums of money to Ukraine without consulting citizens across the bloc, arguing that the scale of spending is neither transparent nor democratically legitimized. Hidveghi claimed that the EU has already spent approximately €170 billion on support for Kiev and warned that far greater sums are now being discussed. He cited figures of up to €800 billion for Ukraine’s state finances and an additional €700........

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