Hungary’s Orbán Accuses Ukraine Of Election Meddling; Summons Ambassador As Tensions Deepen

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Already frosty relations between Budapest and Kyiv further cooled Tuesday after Hungary’s pro-Russia prime minister accused Ukraine of election interference to overthrow him and ordered the Ukrainian ambassador to be summoned to the foreign ministry.

Viktor Orbán, who faces his biggest opposition challenge in 16 years, said Hungary’s intelligence services have information suggesting Kyiv seeks to undermine the government ahead of the April 12 parliamentary vote.

The remarks marked the latest escalation in Orbán’s long-running anti-Ukraine campaign, as he seeks to convince voters that neighboring war-torn Ukraine — facing a full-scale Russian invasion since 2022 — poses a direct threat to Hungary’s security and sovereignty.

With his right-wing nationalist Fidesz party trailing by double digits in most polls, Orbán even suggested that under a new prime minister, presumably opposition leader Péter Magyar, Hungarians could be forced to fight and die on Ukraine’s frontlines.

Magyar has strongly denied Orbán’s accusations, arguing instead that the prime minister fears scrutiny over scandals ranging from alleged corruption involving European Union funds to reports of abuse at state-run institutions.

ORBÁN CLAIMS COORDINATED UKRAINIAN ELECTION PLOT

Orbán counters that Magyar, who serves as a member of the European Parliament for his upstart Tisza party, has been “paid by Brussels” to oppose Hungary’s anti-war, anti-migration, and “pro-Christian” family agenda while advancing Ukraine’s interests.

In a video posted on social media, Orbán said Ukraine’s political leaders — “even the president himself” — had made what he called “grossly offensive and threatening” statements against Hungary, though he did not elaborate.

“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 stressed.

He added that he instructed Hungary’s foreign minister to summon Ukraine’s ambassador for consultations.

Hungary’s government has consistently opposed European Union financial and military aid for Ukraine and has vowed to veto any EU steps toward Kyiv’s accession into the bloc.

This month, Orbán’s administration launched what it calls a “national petition,” urging voters to oppose continued EU financial support for Ukraine.

ZELENSKYY CRITICIZES ORBÁN AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Orbán directly, saying the Hungarian leader “lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests.”

“If he feels comfortable in Moscow, it doesn’t mean we should let European capitals become little Moscows,” Zelenskyy said.

Yet Orbán, 62, shares U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s view that the war should end quickly, even if that means Ukraine may be forced to concede territory to Russia.

Observers say the deepening rift between Budapest and Kyiv could further complicate European unity as the war drags on and Hungary heads toward a high-stakes election.

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