Zelenskyy: "Orbán's election campaign is based on hostility towards Ukraine and me"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's election campaign is built on criticism of Ukraine, Ukrainians and Zelenskyy personally.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Irish blogger Caolan Robertson

Detail: During the interview, Zelenskyy spoke about Russian influence in Europe, describing it as "one of the largest" and saying it serves as a tool for spreading Kremlin narratives.

In this context, Robertson asked him about the Hungarian prime minister's election campaign.

Zelenskyy said Orbán has chosen to base his campaign on hostility towards Ukraine, Ukrainians, himself personally, the European Union and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding that this constitutes the essence of Orbán's electoral programme.

The president also noted that Orbán does not represent all Hungarian people, stressing that the outcome of the elections will be determined by voters.

He added that Hungarians are a very good nation and much greater than any single individual, but said that ultimately everything will depend on their choice.

In early March, Zelenskyy said he hopes that Orbán's party will lose the elections, which could make it possible to normalise relations between Ukraine and Hungary .

Recent opinion polls ahead of Hungary's parliamentary elections show growing support for Orbán's Fidesz party, although the opposition party Tisza continues to lead by 14 percentage points.