Zelensky charge Orban: His Support for Russia, Historic Error

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has described the policies and messages against Ukraine of Hungarian populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban as the historical “ ”.

In an interview for Hungarian media Valasz Online, published Tuesday, Zelensky accused Orban of using propaganda against Ukraine in order to benefit from domestic politics.

He [Orban] is using Ukraine for his electoral purposes”, he said. “He doesn't understand that this will have very serious and dangerous consequences. By not helping us, he is doing a favor [Russian president Vladimir] Putin. That's why I say Victor is making a serious and historical mistake”.

For weeks, the Government of Orban is conducting a campaign through the deployment of anti-help banners to Ukraine and is rejecting Kiev's membership in the European Union. The main message of the campaign is that aid to Ukraine would draw Hungary into war and damage the state economy.

The portrait of Zelensky is also displayed on several banners. “How can he use my face for his election? I have not given him permission for such a thing”, Zelensky said.

Ukrainian President also recalled that in May of this year, Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) arrested two Ukrainians with Hungarian ethnicity suspected of spying on Hungary's military intelligence service, KNBSZ. He said new evidence has also been found, but which have not been made public.

In response, Hungary arrested a spy person who said he allegedly worked for Ukraine, who, according to Budapest, was close to Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar.

Hungary is expected to hold parliamentary elections in early 2026.

Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has been under pressure since Magyar's new conservative party, Tisza, is leading, according to polls. /Periscope/