“Orban becomes important when he has the support of influential political forces, otherwise he does not have significant weight. Hungary is an important country, but it does not have military influence,” Zelensky said.
The head of the Ukrainian state indicated that the Hungarian people are not pro-Russian.
“I don't talk to him [Орбаном]because he doesn't want to, but I have contacts with [премьер-министром Словакии] Robert Fico. I believe that Orban will lose the election, and then we will be able to resume normal relations with Hungary,” the president said.
Context
Orban regularly makes anti-Ukrainian statements, blocks aid to Ukraine and sanctions against the Russian Federation, and also travels to the aggressor country Russia. The conflict between him and Ukraine escalated at the end of January, when Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that “every Victor living on Europe’s money and at that time trying to sell European interests deserves a slap on the head.” The Hungarian prime minister responded by expressing the opinion that he and Zelensky “will not be able to come to an agreement.”
Zelensky noted back in June 2025 that Orban was using the topic of Russia’s war against Ukraine to his advantage before the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12, 2026.
