The disclosure highlights Hungary’s divergence from EU consensus as Brussels weighs a high-stakes decision tied to Ukraine’s war financing.

Orbán made the remarks on December 16, 2025, during an informal briefing to journalists while flying to a European Union summit in Brussels.

The summit agenda included discussion of whether to use frozen Russian central bank assets—worth hundreds of billions of euros—to support Ukraine.

A Letter And A Reply

Orbán told reporters he had recently written to Putin to ask what countermeasures Russia would pursue if the EU proceeded with seizing or using the frozen assets.

He said he specifically asked whether Moscow would “track and consider how individual EU member states voted” on the issue.

According to Orbán’s account, Putin replied that Russia would take “strong countermeasures” but would factor in how countries voted.

Orbán framed the response as confirmation that Hungary’s position—opposing the move—would be taken into account by Moscow.

“If He Votes Correctly”

Hungarian media coverage quickly diverged in tone. Pro-government outlets reported Orbán’s comments as a matter-of-fact explanation of why Hungary would vote against the proposal, arguing that confiscating the assets would amount to escalation and a “declaration of war.”

Opposition-leaning and independent outlets adopted a more caustic framing.

Headlines paraphrased the exchange as Putin reassuring Orbán that “if he votes correctly, no harm will come to him,” a formulation that implied pressure on EU members and highlighted Budapest’s coordination with Moscow.

The phrase refers to potential retaliation—economic, energy-related, or political—rather than physical harm.

Hungary’s Outlier Position

Hungary has consistently opposed tougher EU measures against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, positioning itself as a skeptic of sanctions and military escalation.

Orbán reiterated that Hungary would vote against using the frozen assets, saying such a step would cross a legal and political threshold.

The assets in question are widely estimated to total several hundred billion euros, making the debate one of the most consequential financial decisions facing the EU since the war began.

Orbán’s comments underscored concerns in Brussels about unanimity rules allowing a single member state to block action.

Reaction And Implications

The disclosure drew criticism from Hungarian opposition figures and EU observers, who argued it suggested undue deference to Russian interests.

By publicly relaying Putin’s assurances, critics said, Orbán reinforced perceptions that Hungary acts as Moscow’s closest interlocutor inside the EU.

While no official EU response was issued to Orbán’s remarks, the episode added political tension to the December 16–17 summit.

It also illustrated how the debate over frozen Russian assets has become not only a legal and financial question, but a test of EU cohesion under wartime pressure.