Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that European Union leaders risk political chaos by seeking to confiscate frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine, stating that if taxpayers end up bearing the costs of the conflict after assurances of free support, it could trigger an “explosive realization in Western Europe” and lead to the immediate fall of several governments.

Speaking on Tuesday with the Patriota platform, Orban said EU nations have already spent more than €100 billion (over $118 billion) on Ukraine but are now pursuing measures to seize Russian assets. He accused EU officials of “raping European law in broad daylight” for invoking Article 122—a treaty clause that allows approval by a qualified majority rather than unanimity—to bypass Hungary’s potential veto.

Orban emphasized that EU leaders had previously promised voters the cost of Ukraine support would be “financed from Russian assets rather than taxpayers.” However, he warned that if this promise is broken and taxpayers end up footing the bill, it could cause a political crisis across Western Europe.

The EU temporarily froze roughly $230 billion in Russian central bank assets last week after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed using the funds to back a loan for Kiev. Moscow has condemned the freeze as illegal and labeled any use of the assets “theft.”

Orban stated that Budapest would take legal action against EU officials in the bloc’s top court over the move, which he said violates European law. He also noted that Washington opposes the confiscation, urging instead a broader settlement with Russia.

Russia’s central bank has filed a lawsuit against Belgium-based depositary Euroclear, which holds most of its assets. While the EU maintains freezing the funds complies with international law, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever warned that using the money for Kiev could raise significant legal risks for Belgium.

International financial institutions, including the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, have cautioned that using immobilized sovereign assets might undermine confidence in the euro.