In Viktor Orbán's view, EU Member States seemingly put Ukraine first, instead of their own citizens.Continue reading
Recently, the percentage of those rejecting Ukrainian EU membership rose from 62 to 67 percent, while the percentage of supporters fell from 29 to 23 percent, according to the results of a public opinion poll conducted by the Nézőpont Institute.
Viktor Orbán announced a referendum on Ukraine’s EU membership in early March 2025, and is awaiting the opinion of Hungarians by June 20. Péter Magyar, leader of Hungarian opposition party Tisza, also asked his supporters for their opinion on the issue, and Ukrainian propaganda activities in Hungary have increased in connection with this, claims the think tank. The positions in the democratic debate are clearly divided.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that if it were worthwhile for Hungarians, they would support Ukraine’s membership, but at present, our country would lose out on joining. Péter Magyar, however, as president of the Tisza party, which is part of the European People’s Party block in the European Parliament, has come out in favor of Ukraine’s accession,”
according to Nézőpont Institute.
Based on the opinion polls conducted by the Institute, Hungarians are increasingly less favorable towards Ukraine’s accession to the EU. While in mid-April, at the beginning of the opinion poll, nearly one-third (29 percent) of the entire voting-age population was in favor of the issue, a month later their share fell to less than one-quarter (23 percent). At the same time, the camp of those with a negative opinion of Ukraine’s EU membership has grown stronger, with the proportion of those with a negative opinion of Ukraine’s accession to the EU rising to over two-thirds (from 62 percent to 67 percent) in just a few weeks.
More than 5.2 million Hungarians now oppose Ukraine joining the EU. That’s an increase of over 300,000 in just a few weeks according to a new Nézőpont poll.
Despite pro-Ukraine campaigning and Péter Magyar’s signature drive, public opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership has… pic.twitter.com/Y1JdL24NmH
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) May 26, 2025
This represents an increase of more than 300,000 in the number of people rejecting Ukraine’s accession, meaning that 5.2 million Hungarians are currently opposed to Hungary’s eastern neighbor joining the EU. Allegations and scandals involving spying, as well as the alleged ties between Ukraine intelligence and the Tisza party may have played a role in shifting public opinion.
Via Nézőpont Institute; Featured photo: Nézőpont Institute