Orban confronts Zelensky over Hungary's EU stance
"What the Hungarian people think is not decided by the president in Kyiv or the bureaucrats in Brussels," declared Viktor Orban. The Hungarian Prime Minister responded robustly to Volodymyr Zelensky, who, in an interview with the Ukrainian press, criticised Orban, asserting that the majority of Hungarians support Ukraine's entry into the European Union.
What you need to know
- Viktor Orban responded firmly to Volodymyr Zelensky's statement, where Zelensky claimed that 70% of Hungarians support Ukraine's accession to the EU.
- The Hungarian Prime Minister emphasised that Hungarians' decisions are not dictated by the President of Ukraine or the bureaucrats in Brussels.
- In Hungary, the postal vote "Voks 2025" is underway, aiming to gauge public opinion on Ukraine's entry into the EU.
"Mr. President! What the Hungarian people think is not decided by the president in Kyiv or the bureaucrats in Brussels.There is no Ukrainian EU accession without Hungary," Viktor Orban declared on social media.
"Every Hungarian will have their say on this. Whether you like it or not. That’s how we do things here," Orban declared decisively, addressing Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian president stated on Saturday that the vast majority of Hungarians support Ukraine's entry into the European Union, criticising Orban's actions.
Zelensky criticises Orban
On Saturday, Zelensky told journalists that the vast majority of Hungarians (70%) support Ukraine's accession to the EU, despite Prime Minister Orban's opposition. He accused Orban of interfering with the public opinion poll, according to which people allegedly oppose Ukraine.
President Zelensky underlined that the Hungarian people continue to stand with Ukraine, despite political maneuvers from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, which he views as election-driven. He accused the Hungarian leadership of deliberately hindering Ukraine’s EU accession for domestic political gain. Nevertheless, Zelensky remains confident that such a strategy will ultimately fail, as public support for Ukraine in Hungary persists.
The President of Ukraine publicly warned that Orban is undertaking "very dangerous things" for the EU. "We see this and are watching closely," he added, stating that Ukraine keeps its partners informed in real-time about this.
In April, the postal vote "Voks 2025" began in Hungary, during which the government is asking citizens for their opinion on Ukraine's entry into the EU. Simultaneously, with the referendum, an anti-Ukrainian campaign by the country's authorities has intensified.
