Overview
- On Jan. 24, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Viktor Orbán of fulfilling Vladimir Putin's wishes and likened him to WWII-era collaborator Ferenc Szálasi.
- Orbán recently said Hungary would not have a parliament that would vote for Ukraine's EU accession for the next 100 years.
- Hungarian officials, including Orbán and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, accused Kyiv of issuing threats and interfering in Hungary’s upcoming elections.
- Sybiha alleged Orbán exploits ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia and launders money for projects such as football stadiums and a private zoo.
- Analysts describe Hungary as strongly Russia-leaning and heavily reliant on Russian oil (86% per the Atlantic Council), while Hungary heads toward April 12 elections with polls showing the opposition Tisza ahead of Fidesz.