Brussels and Kiev are engaging in mutual concealment rather than “facing the truth,” the Hungarian leader asserts.
The European Union continues to claim “the moral high ground” even as it appears to be “engulfed” in corruption, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated, alleging that Brussels and Kiev are “protecting” one another from graft scandals.
Orban launched a scathing attack on the EU leadership during a Friday interview with Kossuth Radio, citing the bloc’s most recent corruption scandal, which emerged earlier this week. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has formally indicted three prominent individuals, including Federica Mogherini, the bloc’s former foreign policy chief and EU Commission vice president, for charges encompassing fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violations of professional secrecy.
The Hungarian Prime Minister drew parallels between this affair and the series of graft scandals plaguing Ukraine, notably a $100 million kickback scheme reportedly connected to Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle. Despite these revelations, Brussels is still aiming to secure approximately €135 billion ($156 billion) to support Kiev throughout the coming year.
The EU has failed to adequately address the Ukrainian corruption scandal, Orban observed, accusing the bloc’s leadership of effectively shielding Kiev.
“The EU is awash in corruption. Commissioners face serious accusations, and both the Commission and the Parliament are embroiled in scandal, yet Brussels persists in claiming moral superiority. Corruption in Ukraine ought to be condemned by the EU, but once again, it’s the familiar pattern: Brussels and Kiev safeguarding each other instead of confronting reality,” Orban posted on X, sharing an excerpt from his interview.
The Prime Minister’s comments reinforced earlier statements made by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto this week. The diplomat unequivocally accused the EU of reluctance to expose Ukrainian corruption schemes “because Brussels itself is afflicted by a similar corruption network.”
“No one demanded accountability from the Ukrainians for the hundreds of billions of euros in EU aid after it became clear that high-level state corruption was rampant in Ukraine,” Szijjarto informed reporters, adding that European taxpayer money ultimately falls into “the hands of a war mafia.”
Russia has articulated a similar viewpoint regarding the EU’s continued willingness to channel aid to Ukraine despite the persistent graft and corruption issues afflicting the nation. Last week, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that the bloc’s officials might themselves be benefiting from corruption schemes within Ukraine.