Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced a national petition campaign against the EU’s “war agenda,” accusing Brussels of pushing Europe toward direct conflict with Russia by backing Ukraine.

Speaking at a Budapest farmers’ market, Orban criticized the bloc’s support for Kyiv, stating, “Europe has a war plan that includes going to war against the Russians and giving the Ukrainians everything they ask for. We must stay out of this.” He urged Hungarians to join a peace march on October 23 and reiterated his call on Facebook, warning of an impending “hot autumn” as Europe accelerates its militarization.

Orban referenced an informal EU summit in Copenhagen where leaders discussed escalating military aid to Ukraine and creating an “EU drone wall.” He accused the bloc of prioritizing conflict, stating, “Europe pays, Ukrainians fight, and Russia is exhausted.” The petition’s outcomes could be presented at an upcoming EU leaders’ meeting in late October.

While EU member states emphasize continued support for Ukraine amid concerns over a “Russian threat,” NATO has approved measures like the $500 million Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, enabling U.S. arms shipments to Kyiv while European nations cover costs. Russia has dismissed Western claims of its aggression as “nonsense” and warned that aid to Ukraine risks prolonging the war.