Kyiv Summons Hungarian Envoy After Orban Accuses Ukraine of Election Meddling

January 29 ------ Ukraine summoned Hungary’s ambassador, deepening a fast-escalating diplomatic clash after Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Kyiv of trying to interfere in Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Hungarian Ambassador Antal Heizer was called to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry on Jan. 28, where officials lodged a formal protest over what Kyiv described as false and inflammatory claims by Budapest.

“We expressed a strong protest regarding recent false statements by the Hungarian leadership alleging Ukrainian interference in the course of Hungary’s parliamentary elections,” the Foreign Ministry said. It urged Hungary to halt “aggressive anti-Ukrainian rhetoric,” warning it could further damage bilateral relations. The row erupted after Orban claimed Monday that Ukrainian politicians – including President Volodymyr Zelensky – had issued “insulting” and threatening messages aimed at swaying Hungarian voters ahead of the April election. Orban said he would summon Ukraine’s ambassador, prompting Kyiv’s reciprocal move.

Relations between the two neighbors have been strained since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, driven largely by Orban’s close ties with the Kremlin and his repeated efforts to block EU military and financial support for Kyiv. In recent weeks, tensions have intensified as Orban ramped up attacks on Ukraine while campaigning in what could be his toughest election in nearly two decades. This month, Orban’s ruling Fidesz-led coalition rolled out a nationwide petition urging voters to oppose any further Hungarian contributions to Ukraine’s defense. The petition will be mailed to households and can be returned by March 23. Hungary is set to hold parliamentary elections on April 12, with Orban facing the real prospect of losing power for the first time since 2006.

The mailer directly targets EU funding for Kyiv and raises alarm over Ukraine’s potential EU membership – something Zelensky has said he hopes to achieve at least at a “technical” level by 2027. Orban has claimed such a move would saddle the bloc with an additional $800 billion in costs once Ukraine joins.

Hungary joined the EU in 2004. Orban is now one of only two EU leaders to maintain close relations with Moscow and has consistently opposed aid to Ukraine since the invasion began. The petition features an image of Zelensky with his hand outstretched, portrayed as begging for money, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber, depicted as encouraging Europeans to hand over cash. “Brussels has decided to enter the war on Ukraine’s side,” the petition text claims. “Europeans, including us Hungarians, will pay the costs of the war.” It alleges – without evidence – that Ukraine will never repay “hundreds of billions of euros” in aid and warns that Brussels plans to extract that money from European citizens. Orban has also claimed Hungarians will lose 13th- and 14th-month pension payments, face higher taxes, and pay more for utilities, with funds allegedly diverted to Ukraine.

Zelensky appeared to take aim at Orban last week during a speech at the World Economic Forum, saying that “every ‘victor’ who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head,” and warning against European capitals turning into “little Moscows.” Ukraine applied for EU membership just days after Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, but progress has been stalled by Hungarian vetoes.

Source: kyivpost.com