PM Orban Condemns Brussels for Doubling Down on Ukraine Payments Instead of Investigating Scandal

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban finds it astonishing that, in light of the latest corruption scandal in Kyiv, the President of the European Commission is not calling for an investigation or a suspension of EU aid to Ukraine—but instead wants to funnel even more money to Kyiv. PM Orban compared Ursula von der Leyen’s latest request to “trying to cure an alcoholic by sending him another crate of vodka.”

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: Archive)

In a video statement, PM Orban said that von der Leyen has written to EU member states requesting additional funds, arguing that the shortfall in the necessary financing for Ukraine has become significant.

Von der Leyen would take more money for Ukraine out of the pockets of European taxpayers (Illustration, source: APA-PictureDesk via AFP)

I am trying to hold back my initial reflex in order to respond politely, but this is absolutely astonishing. When it turns out that a wartime mafia in Ukraine is pocketing Europeans’ money—God only knows where it ends up —instead of launching an investigation or even suspending further payments, the President of the Commission proposes we send even more cash,

Viktor Orban said.

That’s like trying to get an alcoholic to stop drinking by sending him another crate of vodka,

he added.

I received a letter today from President @vonderleyen. She writes that Ukraine’s financing gap is significant and asks member states to send more money. It's astonishing. At a time when it has become clear that a war mafia is siphoning off European taxpayers’ money, instead of…

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 17, 2025

Apparently, Von der Leyen is completely unfazed by the explosive corruption scandal that erupted in Kyiv just days ago. Investigators traced Western aid all the way into President Volodymyr Zelensky’s inner circle—discovering, among other things, a gold-plated toilet in the home of one of his closest confidants.

"A golden toilet is in one of the bathrooms of the apartment of Zelensky's business partner Timur Mindich, where, according to media reports, NABU wiretapped the president himself. This was reported by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who showed a photo, as he claims, from this apartment.… pic.twitter.com/LYtCFKlTcW

— Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) July 30, 2025

The Commission President’s document claims that even if the war ends by late 2026, Ukraine will still require at least 71 billion euros in additional funding beyond what the EU has already promised. Brussels insists this money must be made available rapidly and flexibly, as Ukraine could run out of funds by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Brussels is also still pushing to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine, but Belgium—where most of those assets are held—continues to resist due to legal concerns. Moscow has repeatedly warned that retaliation would follow, which could cost billions to -among others - the German economy.

If Russian assets remain off-limits, von der Leyen still wants to dig deeper into the pockets of European taxpayers—money that, as PM Orban noted, Ukraine’s leadership appears to be flushing down literal golden toilets. In doing so, he said, Zelensky and his circle insult not only their own suffering people, both on the front lines and at home, but also the citizens of the European Union, which they aspire to join.

Across Europe, public patience is running out. Even in France, Macron’s decision to welcome Zelensky despite the scandal was met with confusion and anger.

Face au scandale de corruption qui secoue le Président Volodymyr #Zelensky, les Ukrainiens demandent des comptes ... "Et Macron" s'assoit sur les français en continuant avec les chèques en blanc annonçant une aide supplémentaire de deux milliards d'€ de la France.

— Nicolas (@UttonSheil20359) November 17, 2025

According to reports the central figure in the scandal, Timur Mindich—a top confidant of Zelensky—vanished from Kyiv just hours before authorities raided his residence. 

Analyst Daniel Deak notes that Mindich was “likely tipped off from within Zelensky’s circle".

This suggests that Zelensky himself may have helped his ally escape—which in practice likely means: as long as Zelensky remains in power, the corruption machine siphoning off Western aid will continue to run, despite his 2019 election victory being built on promises to eradicate corruption.

Cover photo: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: Archive)