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Orbán claims Ukraine has invaded Hungary’s election campaign while hailing “golden” US-Hungary relations
Hungary stands firmly behind the United States’ efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said during a press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Budapest on Monday.
Orbán highlighted that the current US president has done more than anyone else in international politics to seek peace in the Russian–Ukrainian war. “Everyone knows that if Donald Trump had been president, this war would never have started,” he remarked.
He added: “If Donald Trump were not the US president now, we wouldn’t have any chance to end this war peacefully in the foreseeable future. So we express our respect and gratitude to the US president for his peace efforts.”
The prime minister also confirmed that Hungary remains ready to host any future peace summit, and that Donald Trump has a standing invitation to visit Budapest.
“Golden era” in US–Hungary relations
Orbán declared that a golden era has dawned in relations between the United States and Hungary. He stressed that the bilateral ties have never been as high-level, balanced, or goodwill-driven as they are today.
Since January last year, 17 major US investments have been approved in Hungary, setting a record for decades. Hungarians can once again travel to the United States without a visa, Orbán noted, thanking Marco Rubio personally.
He also confirmed that Hungary has been invited to join the newly formed Peace Council, which will be established this week in Washington, and that he will represent Hungary there.
Key agreements were also signed in the energy sector, covering oil, gas, and nuclear power. According to Orbán, these arrangements—including an exemption allowing Hungary to continue using Russian gas and oil—ensure the country’s energy security and enable households and industry to access energy at internationally competitive prices.
Ukrainian involvement in Hungary’s election campaign
Orbán also criticised Ukraine’s engagement in Hungary’s electoral process. “The Ukrainians and their president have clearly entered Hungary’s election campaign,” he said.
Responding to a question from state media, he said it is unusual for another country to intervene so openly in elections. “It’s understandable, however, since the Hungarian election primarily matters to Hungarians, but it also has repercussions beyond our borders. The Ukrainians rightly believe that it matters who governs Hungary,” Orbán added.
He outlined two scenarios:
- The Hungarian people, who in the Voks 2025 referendum clearly rejected Ukraine’s EU accession, fearing it would drag Hungary into war and devastate the economy. Orbán emphasised that Hungary will not send funds to Brussels to be redirected to Ukraine.
- The alternative, which Ukraine prefers, would see a government in Hungary that accepts Ukraine’s EU membership and participates in covering its financial burdens, essentially sending money to Ukraine.
Watch the press conference below:
If you missed it:
Marco Rubio: We are truly in a “golden era” of US-Hungary relations
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that, thanks to the personal good relationship between President Donald Trump and the Hungarian leader, it is no exaggeration to say that US–Hungary relations are currently experiencing a golden era.
Rubio emphasised that this is not just rhetoric: it is reflected in actions, with bilateral ties now at their strongest.
“It is not true that Hungary is isolated. Increasingly, American companies want to invest here, thanks to strong leadership that protects investments and maintains competitive regulations,” Rubio said.
He added that President Trump places great importance on Orbán’s success, and because of their exceptionally good personal relationship, the US president would be ready to provide support should the Hungarian prime minister face difficulties in the future.
Trump will be gone in less than three years and the next Hungarian government will be dealing with a different administration. His popularity now is very low in the US and around the world. Hitching yourself to this trainwreck of a US president is not a smart thing to do for Hungary. Hungary is like a frog boiling alive in a pot of water. It gets more uncomfortable by the day but people have trouble figuring out what is happening to them. It’s Orban.
Larry, do you have trouble counting to 4?
Trump stays for 3 years, that’s 75% of the next government’s term. What do you mean “just” 3 years?!
And it is very offensive, that you think Hungarians are so idiotic. Do you want to know, why the metropolitan globo-homo can’t win in Hungnary? That’s their main problem. Instead of addressing real issues 80% of the population wants, which is rural, the oposition says: “Nah, the 80% is jut stupid. These are peasants after all. We lie to them and that’s enough.”
No, it is not enough. We are not stupid, and we see the lies, contempt and deception, and find it repugnant.
We know, what’s happening to us, and that is why we resist the globalists.
I know you want a world, where the “democratic”, metropolitan 20% enforces it’s will on the rural 80% by force, but in our definition, that is not democracy. That’s oppression.
Yawn..
You are implying hypocrisy, I see.
Obviously, what you define “interference” is the main point here.
The USA’s politicians are saying, that the Hungarian leadership are such a good guys. According to international standards, that is not interference. When Ursula and Weber said they wanted Tisza to win, that wasn’t branded as interference as well. One could argue, this was because Orbán thought their support only hinders Magyar, but that doesn’t change the fact, that the application of the rule was the same.
Ukraine however is not just saying, they want something. They are threatening military interventions, using covert operations, and attacking critical Hungarian infrastructure. On top of that the EU funds Tisza, while Ukraine gave non-monetary aid to Tisza, like services for free.
Those are not the same. The action in my first paragraph are below a very well defied threshold. My second paragraphs are very much above that. And that is why the government is calling that interference, while it doesn’t call the other.