Hungarian Prime Minister says Ukraine’s accession to NATO would trigger a full-scale war with Russia and push Europe into catastrophe

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has warned that Ukraine's membership in NATO would lead to a direct war with Russia, escalating into a potential Third World War. He also cautioned against the European Union’s push to quickly incorporate Ukraine into the bloc, calling such efforts dangerous and reckless.

Orbán made his warning in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, where he wrote, “If Ukraine joins NATO, it will mean war with Russia. And the very next day, World War III could begin.” He added that the EU’s rush to bring Ukraine into the union risks spreading the conflict further across Europe.

Hungary has long opposed Brussels’ policies regarding the Ukraine conflict, particularly on issues like military aid to Kyiv and sanctions on Moscow. Budapest has also been a vocal critic of Ukraine’s integration into either the NATO military alliance or the European Union.

“This madness must stop,” Orbán wrote. “I will not allow Europe to turn into a battlefield.”

In a separate interview with a Hungarian media outlet, Orbán elaborated on his concerns, claiming that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would harm Europe economically and politically. He particularly expressed fears over the impact of cheap Ukrainian agricultural products on Hungarian farmers, saying their domestic market would be severely disrupted if Ukrainian goods entered the EU without restrictions.

Orbán's stance reflects a growing divide within the EU and NATO about how to deal with the ongoing war in Ukraine. While most Western leaders continue to support Ukraine both militarily and politically, Hungary has maintained a more neutral, and at times pro-Russian, posture—frustrating many of its allies.

Despite strong support among NATO members for Ukraine’s long-term inclusion, full membership requires unanimous approval by all member states. Hungary’s firm opposition adds a significant obstacle to Kyiv’s ambitions.

Meanwhile, talks in Brussels continue about how and when to further integrate Ukraine into Euro-Atlantic structures. Ukraine has made it clear that NATO and EU membership are among its top strategic goals in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for an expedited path to both organizations.

However, Orbán insists that these ambitions could drag the entire continent into a wider conflict. “Europe is playing with fire,” he said, accusing EU leaders of ignoring the potential consequences of their decisions.

In recent months, Hungary has blocked or delayed several EU and NATO initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine. These include financial aid packages, defense agreements, and policy statements condemning Russian aggression. The Hungarian government claims that its actions are based on national interest and a desire to avoid being drawn into a broader war.

While Orbán’s rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism from many Western leaders, he remains defiant, positioning himself as a lone voice of caution within the EU. He argues that escalating the conflict by integrating Ukraine into NATO or the EU would not bring peace but rather accelerate the path toward a catastrophic war.

As the war in Ukraine continues with no clear end in sight, Hungary’s resistance is likely to remain a major challenge for Western unity. The warnings from Orbán highlight a deepening rift over how far Europe should go in supporting Kyiv and how best to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia.