“For us Hungarians, it is important that something always exists between Russia and Hungary. When we were neighbors of the Soviet Union, this was not beneficial for Hungary,” Orban said.
Therefore, according to him, Hungary is not interested in weakening Ukraine. “On the contrary, we are interested in strengthening it, so that there will always be something, it can even be called Ukraine, that exists between Russia and Hungary,” Orban said.
He stressed that the security of Hungarians can be guaranteed more effectively if the country is not a neighbor to Russia. Therefore, according to him, Ukraine can always count on the support of Hungary.
However, Orban again spoke out against Ukraine's entry into the European Union. “We don’t want to see such a country in the EU, but we will strive to have a strategic agreement between the European Union and Ukraine that will determine the future of Ukraine in a way that is good for Europe and for us, Hungarians,” he added.
Context
Orban regularly makes anti-Ukrainian statements, blocks aid to Ukraine and sanctions against the Russian Federation, and also travels to the aggressor country of 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.”
Orban’s anti-Ukrainian rhetoric intensified after the oil transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline was stopped due to the Russian strike. Hungary blocked the approval of a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, demanding resumption of transit. On March 5, Orban resorted to threats, saying that he would force Ukraine to resume Russian oil supplies through the pipeline.
Zelensky noted 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.
