Orbán is preparing for ‘dirty work’ at the EU summit during discussions on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is preparing for “dirty work” at the upcoming European Union summit in Brussels on June 26–27, where Ukraine’s accession to the EU will be discussed.

The Hungarian leader has warned that he will firmly oppose Ukraine’s membership during the meeting.

“There will be ‘dirty work’ at the European Union summit — I can already sense it from certain signs. But there’s also a strange charm in this ‘dirty work,’ because very serious debates are expected,” Orbán said during a morning broadcast on Kossuth Radio.

He outlined several key arguments against Ukraine’s accelerated accession, warning that such a move could destroy the European economy, particularly agriculture, and have negative effects on the labor market. According to Orbán, not only Hungarian farmers would suffer, but also waiters and other service workers.

“Millions of people in Ukraine have no means of livelihood, and thousands will rush here, because the wage difference is enormous,” he explained.

Orbán also noted that Hungary’s national referendum on Ukraine’s EU accession will conclude on June 20. More than 2 million Hungarians — out of a population of around 10 million — have already participated through mail-in ballots or online voting. The government considers this a high turnout, especially since participation is voluntary.

“This is the most important issue that will define Hungary’s future for the next few years. And I will be guided by the results of this referendum during the debates at the EU summit in Brussels,” the Hungarian prime minister emphasized.

Earlier, Hungary’s foreign minister warned that the country might cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine if the European Union bans Budapest from purchasing Russian energy.