Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed concerns over the ongoing war and its impact on the European economy, highlighting its challenges for Hungary as a neighbor to Ukraine.

“For three years, we have been living under the shadow of war. As neighbors to Ukraine, we Hungarians feel its effects acutely, but the entire European economy also suffers,” Orbán wrote on his social media account.

Ahead of Hungary’s minimum wage negotiations, Orbán posed a crucial question: “How do we envision 2025? If Europe continues down the path of war, it will inevitably have consequences for Hungary. However, if global politics and the economy take a turn toward peace, it will open up broader opportunities for Hungary as well,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening.

The Prime Minister also announced a historic agreement on a significant minimum wage increase. “We have signed a historic, unprecedented agreement on raising the minimum wage by nearly 40% over three years, reaching 2027. In the last 30 years, only once in the European Union has such a large-scale wage hike been agreed upon,” Orbán noted.

He concluded by emphasizing that peace would not only provide stability but also pave the way for Hungary to achieve its economic aspirations and become a stronger player in the global economy.