Ukraine's accession procedure to the European Union cannot be opened through "legal tricks" circumventing Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told journalists at an EU summit in Copenhagen focusing on defence issues and support for Ukraine, according to Hungarian state news agency MTI. Orban also said that US President Donald Trump has not asked Budapest to stop buying oil from Russia.

"I’m being attacked from all sides, from EU officials and the opposition. It will be a tough day, a cage fight, but we will deal with it," the Hungarian leader posted on Facebook, hours before the informal summit seen as the preparation for a formal meeting of EU leaders scheduled for October 23-24 meeting in Brussels.

He wrote that Hungary would oppose proposals to recognise the Russia–Ukraine war as the EU’s own, increase financial aid to Kyiv, accelerate Ukraine’s accession, and cut oil and gas imports from Russia.  He called these measures contrary to Hungary’s interests, adding that he faced pressure from EU partners, the Commission, and the domestic opposition.

Talking to reporters before the meeting, Orban stressed that enlargement procedures must follow “strictly settled rules” and that the opening and closing of every accession chapter requires unanimous approval by all member states.

Full membership of the country would draw the EU into the Russia–Ukraine war and divert a significant share of EU funds to Ukraine. "Ukraine is a heroic country, no question about that, and we need to support it, but not with EU membership," according to the premier, who proposed strategic agreement with Ukraine.

When asked that the EU was trying to link the accession procedures of Moldova and Ukraine, he replied: "Those are two separate countries.  Further, Ukraine was not a sovereign country.  We don't know where its eastern border is, we don't know the number of its inhabitants, and it can't stand on its own feet."

According to Orban, it is the EU which is covering Ukraine’s army, public administration and pensions. "This is a financial fact," he said.

Addressing regional security, Orban said Hungary supports all forms of European military cooperation, including a planned drone wall along the EU’s eastern border, which Hungary has agreed to join after an initial hesitation.

Meanwhile, he said that "if something flies into Hungary that doesn't belong to us, we will shoot it down. With or without a drone wall" and recommended the same to the Danes, facing drone attacks that many had attributed as Russian operations.

Orban also noted that he had consulted with leaders of Hungarian oil and gas giant MOL before the summit, and will represent their stance.  As a sovereign country, Hungary is free to decide about its energy mix. As a landlocked country, it has one "primary pipeline from Russia" and a pipeline through Croatia, which is in itself insufficient, he said.

He told journalists US President Donald Trump had not asked Budapest to stop buying oil from Russia and  "nobody asked" to turn off the taps from Russia.

The US president respects the sovereignty of other countries, and he just asked about what the situation is (over the supply of Russian energy), it is an important difference (compared to the EU's stance), Orban told journalists.

Responding to another question, he said in a conflict-ridden situation, even one mistake by a more powerful player may result in a world war.