Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán has posted images of himself voting against Ukraine’s accession to the European Union in a national ballot, as he urged fellow Hungarians to do the same.

Even before the nationwide ballot on Tuesday, Orbán has publicly opposed Ukraine’s aspirations for EU membership, which would consolidate Kyiv’s ties in western Europe.

Newsweek has contacted the Hungarian foreign ministry and the EU for comment.

Why It matters

Orbán is Vladimir Putin‘s closest ally in the EU and has sought to block or delay EU packages for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s aggression.

The process for joining the EU is long, complex and requires unanimous approval from all member states at many different stages.

Orbán’s push for fellow citizens to oppose Ukraine’s accession will be considered as favoring Moscow, which will not want to see Kyiv strengthen ties with its allies.

What To Know

Days after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv applied for EU membership and by June that year, it was granted candidate status.

Accession negotiations officially opened on 25 June 2024, at the same time as those with Moldova, another former Soviet state.

Orbán, leader of the Fidesz party, announced on March 5 that a consultation would be held in Hungary on citizens’ support for Ukraine’s EU membership.

On 19 April, ballot papers were sent out to Hungarians, some of which explicitly urged them to vote against. The vote has no legal weight but it is similar to others used by Eurosceptic Orbán.

Orbán has criticized both Brussels and Hungary’s opposition Tisza party for supporting Kyiv’s membership of the bloc, claiming it would harm Hungary’s economy and sovereignty.

He posted on his Facebook page a video clip of him filling out a ballot paper and putting it in an envelope next to a caption which said that Ukraine’s accession would “destroy” the Hungarian economy.

However, recent polling shows public support for Ukraine’s accession, with over half (58 percent) backing the move according to a vote conducted by the Tisza party. A poll on April 7 by the Republikon Institute found a narrow majority of Hungarians in favor of Ukraine joining the EU.

Orbán faces a tough challenge in next year’s elections from Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, which is ahead in the polls. In March, demonstrators took to the streets to oppose his rule and display their support for Magyar.

What People Are Saying

Orban said on Facebook Ukraine’s EU accession “would destroy the Hungarian economy. Let’s not allow them to decide our future over our heads! VOCS 2025. I have already voted.”

What Happens Next

There is wide support in the rest of the EU for Ukraine’s accession. Despite Orbán’s consistent opposition, so far Brussels has been able to talk him down, with the Hungarian PM even leaving the room in December 2023 to allow fellow leaders to agree the opening of talks.

But there are concerns he could toughen his position with President Donald Trump in the White House.

Agence France-Presse reported last week that EU officials fear that Orbán will not budge this time round, which given the unanimity required among members for accession, poses a significant problem for Kyiv, unless he can be defeated in next year’s election by Magyar, who backs Ukraine’s membership.