He has sought to defend Hungary’s neutrality during the war in Ukraine while NATO and the EU support the country.
Orban, who is facing a difficult election in April 3, has refused to provide Ukraine with military assistance — even among Ukraine’s EU neighbours — and has also not permitted lethal weapons to cross Hungary’s borders to Ukraine.
Orban argued that Ukraine should be given such assistance, but he avoided ever mentioning Putin. He has also portrayed himself as the defender his country’s security and peace, while insisting that sanctions against Russia be not extended to Russia’s energy sector, which Hungary is a major beneficiary.
Orban posted Saturday’s tweet on social media that “The answer to the question about which side Hungary is on, is that Hungary has been on Hungary’s side.”
Although his approach is popular with many of his supporters it has caused frustration and outrage among other European leaders, not just the Ukrainian president.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, addressed a summit of EU leaders Friday in a video address. He asked Orban to adopt a clearer position on Russia’s war against Ukraine and to support his besieged country.
“I want to be completely honest and stop here. Zelenskyy stated that you have to choose for yourself with whom you are best friends.
Zelenskyy mentioned that Budapest, Hungary’s capital, had suffered the horrors and wars of the 20th century. He also spoke of a monument of bronze shoes along the Danube that honors the Hungarian Jews who were executed by German-Hungarian fascists during World War II.
Zelenskyy asked, “Listen Viktor, do know what’s happening in Mariupol?” Zelenskyy was referring to the Ukrainian city located on the Sea of Azov, which has been devastated by Russian bombardment. Please, if possible, please go to your waterfront. Take a look at these shoes. You will be amazed at how mass murders can occur again in our world today. This is what Russia does today.
Orban voted for most EU sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy, however, slammed Zelenskyy for not supporting sanctions on Russian energy imports. This is considered one of the most effective EU potential means to put pressure on the Kremlin and also for being Ukraine’s only EU neighbour to refuse to provide it with military assistance.
“Do you hesitate to impose sanctions? You are unsure whether you should allow weapons through. You hesitate about whether you should trade with Russia. It is time to make a decision. “We believe in you, and we need your support,” said the leader of Ukraine.
Orban, however, rejected Zelenskyy’s emotional appeal. He posted a video to social media Friday claiming that sanctions on Russia “would mean that Hungary’s economy would slow down and then cease within minutes.”
Orban stated that blocking Russian energy exports would make Hungarians “pay the price for war”, noting that more than 85% of Hungary’s gas and 60% of its oil come from Russia.
As the Hungarian election nears, Orban seeks to safeguard his country’s long term gas and nuclear contracts with Russia . His position has put at risk his relationships with his closest regional allies in Central Europe’s Visegrad Four alliance, which includes Slovakia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary.
Like Hungary, Poland has been a target of EU efforts for democratic backsliding, rule of law violations and has been a steady ally in Orban’s efforts to decrease the power of EU institutions on member states.
But centuries of Russian dominance have made Poles distrustful of Moscow. Warsaw’s Polish government has condemned Putin and supported Ukraine.
The two countries’ relations have been strained by Orban’s refusal of to act in kind.
Polish ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, an Orban ally and Polish politician, said that he was dissatisfied with Orban’s position on Russia.
Kaczynski stated, “If you asked my happiness, I would answer no.” We will wait to see what happens after the elections, and then we can make an assessment. We are not content.
Jana Cernochova, Czech Defense Minister, stated that she will not be attending the meeting of Visegrad Four defence ministers next week. Cernochova tweeted that she didn’t want to be involved in Hungary’s election campaign, but criticised Hungary’s approach to the war in Ukraine.
She wrote, “I am really sorry that cheap Russian Oil is more important to Hungarian Politicians than Ukrainian Blood.”
