Orbán describes Ukraine as an enemy during election campaign speech

Sunday 08 February 2026 - 16:40

By: Sahili Aya

Orbán describes Ukraine as an enemy during election campaign speech

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sparked controversy after publicly referring to Ukraine as an “enemy” during a campaign speech ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a political rally in the western city of Szombathely, Orbán accused Ukrainian authorities of pressuring European institutions to push Hungary into cutting access to low-cost Russian energy supplies. According to the prime minister, such demands directly threaten Hungary’s national interests.

Orbán emphasized that as long as Ukraine continues to advocate for energy measures that would harm the Hungarian economy, relations between the two countries would remain strained. His remarks come at a time when Ukraine continues to face military aggression from Russia and seeks stronger solidarity within the European Union.

Hungary remains heavily reliant on Russian gas and oil, a situation that has drawn criticism from Brussels and several EU member states. Unlike many European countries, Budapest has made limited progress in diversifying its energy sources, maintaining close economic and political ties with Moscow.

The comments were delivered in the context of an increasingly competitive electoral campaign. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 12, and for the first time in over a decade, Orbán faces a serious political challenge from the opposition Tisza Party, led by conservative politician Péter Magyar, which has been leading opinion polls in recent months.