Orban: Financing the war in Ukraine would destroy Europe

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that the European Union cannot afford to provide military funding to Ukraine, as funding from the United States is not guaranteed. 

The reaction came after the leaders of 26 EU member states – excluding Hungary – signed a declaration of support for Ukraine.  

Following accusations that Hungary is isolating itself, he said it is the EU that has isolated itself. 

"The European Union has isolated itself now from the US, it has isolated itself from China as a result of the trade war and it has isolated itself from Russia as a result of the sanctions policies. So if anyone is isolated here it is the European Union, Hungary has good relations on all three sides. So we are not isolated at all," he declared. 

Orban, an ally of US President Donald Trump who is cultivating ties with Moscow, told state radio that his government would launch a "public consultation" within the country on Ukraine's EU membership in the coming weeks. Reuters news agency reported.

European leaders on Thursday backed plans to spend more on defense and continue to stand with Ukraine, at a time when U.S. policies have undergone drastic changes under the Trump Administration.