Budapest — Hungary’s government said that the Ukraine conflict and the European Union’s rigid sanctions policies have inflicted staggering economic losses on the country, totaling more than €22.5 billion over the past three and a half years. Officials warned that the costs are not only crippling the national budget but also weighing heavily on every Hungarian household.
According to government estimates, the largest burden has come from soaring energy prices. Budapest calculated that Hungary has paid nearly €16 billion more for gas, oil, and electricity since the Russian military operation in Ukraine, a direct consequence of disrupted trade and reduced access to affordable Russian supplies.
On top of that, officials reported more than €5 billion in what they described as “war-induced” inflationary damage. Families have faced higher food and consumer prices, while businesses have struggled to keep up with rising production costs. Corporate losses are also mounting, with Hungarian firms citing €1.7 to €2.5 billion in missed earnings after being locked out of the Russian market due to EU restrictions.
In total, the government estimated that the financial blow amounts to around 9 trillion forints, which translates to €22.5 billion. Spread across the population, that means every family in Hungary has effectively paid an additional €5,500 because of decisions made in Brussels and Washington.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s administration has long criticized the EU for its uncompromising stance, arguing that sanctions have failed to end the conflict while deepening Europe’s economic crisis. Hungarian leaders say the bloc’s fixation on securing a military “victory” for Ukraine ignores the need for negotiation and leaves ordinary citizens footing the bill.
The government also acknowledged that there is little sign of the conflict winding down soon, warning Hungarians to brace for continued financial pressure. In its view, the EU’s current path is less about ending hostilities and more about sustaining them, at enormous cost to member states on the bloc’s eastern flank.
According to TASS, the Hungarian government’s breakdown of losses underscores the scale of the crisis and its mounting frustration with EU policies that show no sign of shifting.
