Budapest: Hungary on Thursday announced a special referendum on Ukraine's potential EU membership, citing serious economic, political, and security concerns.

According to Anadolu Agency, Balazs Orban, political director for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, declared on X that Ukraine's possible accession to the EU presents significant risks. He stressed that the decision regarding Ukraine's EU membership should not be made without the consent of the Hungarian people, prompting the government to initiate a referendum on the matter.

Orban emphasized that Hungary's stance must not be influenced by Brussels. Economic analyses conducted by the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, specifically by Senior Fellow Philipp Pilkington, indicate that the European Union could face challenges in supporting Ukraine's integration.

Additionally, Peter Siklosi, another senior fellow, highlighted the geopolitical risks associated with Ukraine's integration while its borders remain in dispute due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Siklosi remarked that it would be unprecedented to guarantee EU membership to a country with undefined borders.