Orban noted that 95 percent of those participating (more than two million voters) rejected accession in 2022.

Accepting Ukraine would import war and destroy our economy, he warned.

He stressed that any enlargement requires unanimity, giving Hungary veto power.

“We have stopped Ukraine’s membership and they will not be able to prevent it,” the president stressed, assuring that he will defend the referendum result in negotiations with Brussels.

Orban’s statements coincide with his recent visit to Kyiv, his first since 2022, under pressure from the EU to speed up the accession process.

Local analysts point out that Orban’s stance capitalizes on European skepticism about the costs of Ukrainian reconstruction and on divisions within the EU regarding the military escalation in the region.

The EU is formally maintaining negotiations with Ukraine, but will have to address Hungarian objections at the July summit.

Meanwhile, Orban promotes his offensive peace as an alternative to a warmongering approach.

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