BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥 Hungary will poll its citizens on Ukraine's potential future membership in the European Union, Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n said on Friday, a day after he refused to endorse an EU statement on support for Kyiv that was backed by the bloc's 26 other leaders.
In statements to state radio, Orb谩n said EU plans to fill the gap left by for Kyiv by the administration of President Donald Trump would damage the bloc's economy. He reiterated his position that EU membership for Ukraine would come down to whether Hungary approves it or not.
EU membership for Ukraine would mean that 鈥淓urope will be destroyed, including the Hungarian economy," he said. "This process must be stopped in time."
As a way of shoring up support for Orb谩n's stance, the government will issue a 鈥 a form of political campaign conducted periodically by Orb谩n's right-wing populist government in the form of an informal questionnaire sent to every adult in the country.
Such surveys have been widely criticized by pollsters and opposition parties as propaganda tools that are manipulative in their phrasing and highly suggestive of desired answers.
"Everyone will give their opinion" on Ukraine's potential EU membership, Orb谩n said. 鈥淭he question is simple: yes or no.鈥
The results of the survey will not be legally binding. He did not say when the survey would be conducted.
Orb谩n鈥檚 government has said the surveys strengthen its bargaining position on the European level by demonstrating a national consensus on political issues.
Orb谩n, a staunch supporter of Trump and considered to be Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 closest EU partner, refused Thursday to endorse part of a statement supporting Ukraine at an emergency summit convened in Brussels.
At the summit, EU leaders committed to working together to bolster the continent鈥檚 defenses and to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security after Trump鈥檚 repeated warnings that he would to face the threat of Russia alone.
All 26 other EU leaders approved the bloc鈥檚 stance that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and that the Europeans must be involved in any talks involving their security.
Orb谩n has repeatedly on allowing Ukraine into the EU, a decision which would require unanimity among all the bloc's leaders.
Kyiv considers EU membership a crucial part of safeguarding Ukraine's future security against potential renewed Russian attacks after an eventual end to the current war.
