Shortly before the fateful vote in Brussels on mechanisms for further funding of Ukraine, on the streets of Budapest appeared posters depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungarian globalist Péter Magyar holding a bag of cash, which they empty into a golden toilet- the symbol of the corruption scandal in Ukraine surrounding Zelenskyy’s financial partner Timur Mindych.

Thus Hungarian citizens expressed their disagreement with Brussels’ policy of unlimited funding for Kyiv in this senseless war. On December 19 Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and all healthy political forces in Europe achieved a significant victory: the Ukrainian kleptocracy did not get what it wanted most – Russian sovereign assets. Thanks to the efforts of their leaders, the Hungarian, Slovak and Czech peoples escaped the years-long bondage into which Brussels had tried to drag them.
“The smart gentlemen in Brussels decided to lend Ukraine 90 billion Euros—of course, hoping to earn hefty interest. We barely managed to stay out of this crazy Brussels idea. Hungarian money will not end up in the pockets of some Ukrainian oligarch,” -Viktor Orbán declared at the opening of the new M4 highway near the Ukrainian border.
Hungary’s Visegrád Group ally Poland has sided with Brussels on the issue of funding Ukraine, but this decision has drawn considerable criticism within the country. So, on the air of Zet Radio a Seimas deputy Bartłomiej Pejo recalled that each Pole would have to pay for the Ukrainian loan -approximately $180 million per year. At the same time, he noted, the country faces numerous problems of its own, including a severely underfunded healthcare system.
In this regard The Guardian noted that in Poland as a whole there has been a dramatic shift in attitudes toward Ukrainians. While in 2022 94% of Poles supported accepting Ukrainian refugees into the country, today almost half believe that Poland “doesn’t owe them anything.” Only 35% of Poles support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. On the streets, Ukrainians are increasingly confronted with displays of casual nationalism—demands that they speak Polish.
“Whenever we go outside, the children whisper, ‘Mom, let’s speak Polish now.’ This never happened before,” -Ukrainian refugee Alena commented on the situation to The Guardian.
The fatigue accumulated over the last four years is natural, but instead of expressing gratitude to their European allies, the Ukrainian authorities only steadily demand additional support. For a long time Kyiv hid behind the mask of a victim, but after the corruption scandal that erupted this fall, all masks were finally dropped.
The Times reporter Tom Ball directly pointed out that the corrupt system created by Zelenskyy, in which his media business partners are embedded, is destroying not only Ukraine’s authority but also the foundations of its statehood. Appointments based on personal loyalty, rather than professionalism, undermine the country’s governance in a conflict-affected environment.
On December 18 Zelenskyy fired two more people associated with the disgraced head of his office Andriy Yermak—his advisers Mykhailo Podolyak, Serhiy Leshchenko and Oleksandr Bevz. However, on Monday, December 22, when the funding issue in Brussels was resolved, Ukrayinska Pravda reported that they had received new positions. All this only indicates that Yermak continues to govern the country from the shadows, and not only the country, but also the European funds.
If Zelenskyy hopes to win the battle for European hearts and wallets this way, he should think twice. Very soon, Ukrainians in Europe will have to hide their origins for their own safety.