Orbán escalates claims of Ukrainian election interference
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accused Ukraine of seeking to interfere in his country’s elections on Monday and ordered Kyiv’s ambassador to be summoned, intensifying an anti-Ukraine campaign as his political support weakens ahead of April 12 voting.
Orbán’s escalating anti-Ukraine rhetoric, unsupported by evidence, reflects his weakening political position. His right-wing Fidesz party trails opposition rivals by double digits in polls, making the April vote his greatest electoral challenge in 16 years.
The accusations
In a statement posted to social media on Monday, Orbán claimed Ukrainian “political leaders, and even the president himself, made grossly offensive and threatening statements against Hungary and the Hungarian government.”
He did not specify which statements he was referring to.
“Our national security services have evaluated this latest Ukrainian attack and determined that what happened is part of a coordinated series of Ukrainian measures to interfere in the Hungarian elections,” Orbán said, directing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to summon Ukraine’s ambassador.
Campaign centerpiece
Rather than campaign on his government’s record, Orbán has made Ukraine the central issue in his reelection bid. He has warned voters, without substantiation, that Hungary would be forced into the Ukraine conflict if his party loses, with Hungarians conscripted to fight on the front lines.
The prime minister has also accused opposition leader Péter Magyar without presenting evidence of having made a pact with Kyiv to overthrow his government and install a pro-Western, pro-Ukraine administration.
Blocking Ukraine support
Orbán’s anti-Ukraine stance extends beyond electoral messaging. Hungary’s government has opposed European Union financial and military assistance to Ukraine and has pledged to veto any EU moves toward Ukraine’s accession into the bloc.
This month, Orbán’s government launched what it calls a “national petition” and has urged voters to sign it in opposition to continued EU financial support for Kyiv.
Zelenskyy’s response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired back at Orbán last week while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“He lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests,” Zelenskyy said of the Hungarian leader. “If he feels comfortable in Moscow, it doesn’t mean we should let European capitals become little Moscows.”
Orbán has maintained close ties with Russia throughout his tenure, positioning himself as a bridge to Moscow even as the European Union and NATO have aligned against Russia’s war in Ukraine.