Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sharply criticised the European Commission’s new long-term budget proposal, accusing Brussels of favouring Ukraine at the expense of European farmers, including those in Hungary.

In a Facebook video post, the Hungarian leader described the situation as dramatic, claiming that a leaked draft of the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) would funnel huge amounts of money to Ukraine, while drastically cutting support for EU citizens.

The biggest winners of this new budget plan are the Ukrainians and the biggest losers are the people of Europe, Orban said, echoing his long-standing view that Brussels prioritises external interests over the needs of member states. He singled out farmers as the most affected group, warning they could receive far less support in the coming budget cycle after 2028.

In a follow-up Facebook post, referring to the protest of farmers against the EU's budget plans in central Budapest, he said that Brussels’ plan would ruin Hungarian farmers. He concluded with a call for "the most radical form of resistance," writing: "A rebellion begins!"

Approval of the EU's budget, which is set to rise from €1.2 trillion to €2 trillion in the next MFF, requires unanimous agreement from EU leaders. While Orban has previously threatened to veto the budget due to frozen EU funds, he made no such suggestion in his initial remarks on Wednesday, July 16.

Head of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyas called the draft budget unacceptable, as funds would be diverted from the cohesion and agricultural policies that are particularly vital for Central and Southern Europe.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Wednesday, Gulyas highlighted that the draft allocates €88bn directly to Ukraine and a further €190bn under the enlargement heading, with the Commission planning exclusively for Ukraine’s accession over the next seven years. Altogether, he said, €278bn, roughly a quarter of the EU’s total budget, would be earmarked for Ukraine.

He called on all Hungarian political forces to reject the Commission’s proposal, saying, "Anyone who supports this draft in its current form is effectively placing Ukraine’s interests above those of Hungary."

He also criticised the Commission for planning increases in administrative spending while proposing cuts to key policy areas. The draft includes the hiring of 2,500 new EU officials and raises for Brussels-based staff.

Hungary will continue to defend its national interests and those of the Central European region, and will push for a return to "an objective cohesion policy free from politically motivated conditionality," the minister said, adding that Hungary strives to preserve the current system of agricultural subsidies.