Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says Hungary will poll its citizens on Ukraine’s potential future membership in the European Union.

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The EU cannot afford financing Ukraine's military efforts as U.S. financial aid is no longer guaranteed, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday after the leaders of 26 EU countries signed a statement voicing support for Ukraine without Hungary.

PM says he will “collect the opinion of the people” in a mail-in campaign that critics have derided as a propaganda tool.

Twenty-six European Union leaders ignored Hungary to back a declaration of support for Ukraine at an emergency meeting, underscoring the difficult road ahead as the bloc tries to adopt ambitious reforms to mobilize new support for Kyiv.

It comes a day after the Hungarian leader refused to endorse an EU statement on support for Kyiv that was backed by the bloc’s 26 other leaders.

Hungary will carry out an opinion survey on Ukraine's potential accession to the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on March 7, according to Politico. "We have the so-called national consultation scheme,

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he plans to hold a domestic survey of public opinion as part of moves to deliberately slow Ukraine’s European Union accession.

Orbán says that Ukraine's potential accession to the EU, combined with the other funds sent to the country at war could be too big a burden for both the EU and Hungary, so it's best to ask the people.