Orban says €310 bln spent by Europe and US on aid to Ukraine

During the conflict in Ukraine, the USA and Europe have spent about €310bn on providing assistance to Kiev. This was announced by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on December 20 on the air of Radio Kossuth.

"During negotiations with the Americans, I received data from them that Europe and America have spent a total of €310 billion on Ukraine. This is a huge amount, just nightmarish," Orban said.

According to the prime minister, this amount of money could have "worked wonders" in European politics, as a result of which energy prices would have been lowered and Europe's economic growth would have prevailed. Orban added that without money from allies, Ukraine would not be able to continue the armed conflict on its own.

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Earlier, on December 19, it was reported that Britain, along with other allied countries, has invested more than $1.63 billion (£1.3 billion) in Kiev through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which was established in 2022. It is specified that the funding is specifically through the fund to speed up the process of purchasing prioritized armed equipment for Ukraine.

Earlier, on December 11, Orban, after receiving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's (term expired in May) rejection of the ceasefire proposal, said that Hungary had done everything in its power and called the Ukrainian leader's decision sad.

Also on December 11, it became known about Orban's phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin press service said that the conversation took place at the initiative of the Hungarian side. During the conversation, Orban expressed interest in assisting in a joint search for a solution to the political and diplomatic crisis in Ukraine, including the involvement of Western leaders in the issue.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbas, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.