Ukraine, he insisted, was financing the opposition party to install a pro-Ukrainian government in Hungary, with "their man" as prime minister. "I am not their man, but yours," he said, "and that is why I do not meet their expectations."

Orban called the election a contest between two policies: a national policy and a pro-Ukrainian policy. He insisted that Hungary's money, young people, and weapons must not be sent to Ukraine, as they were needed to defend Hungary itself.

"The central question in the coming years will be the war, and how we keep Hungary out of it," he declared.

The prime minister warned that western Europe was determined to "win the Ukraine-Russia war on the front lines", predicting that European troops would be deployed to Ukraine between 2026 and 2030.

He said Western leaders were spending 200 billion euros and committing another 90 billion in loans. "Ukraine cannot sustain itself," he said. "Its pensions, education, and everything else depend on European funds."

He noted that Hungary, alongside Slovakia and Czechia, had opted out of the EU's latest 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine. "We refused to mortgage our children's and grandchildren's futures," he said, warning that the loans were a "debt trap" designed to be repaid only if Russia lost and paid reparations.

"The key for the coming years is to stay out," he insisted, but this required a strong government, a stable parliamentary majority, and national unity, he added.

Orban cast the election as a mobilisation effort. "The campaign will be decided by hard work, not speeches or candidates." He urged supporters to volunteer, especially in the final week after Easter, and called on those with digital skills to join the Digital Civic Circles campaign.

With uncertainty over turnout and parliamentary representation, he advised focusing "only on ourselves".

"Dangerous times are coming," Orban warned, with developments requiring Hungary to defend itself. "Now is not the time for change or innovation," he argued, "but for experience, predictability, and proven resilience." Hungary's priority must be security, he said, adding that as prime minister, whatever his merits, he knew that "no one has a greater chance of keeping Hungary out of this war."

Election 2026 - Orban: Zelensky pressing for change of Hungary's govt, opposition 'led by Ukraine's man'

Volodymyr Zelensky is pushing for a change of government, and the opposition is led by "Ukraine’s man", Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a video posted on Facebook on Tuesday, responding to a statement by Zelensky, who reportedly claimed that the Hungarian government's removal was imminent and that negotiations with Hungary could resume once that happens.

In the video responding to Zelensky, the prime minister said: "There's nothing new under the sun. He wants a Ukraine-friendly government, led by Ukraine's man, and I believe they have agreed on this."

Orban said it was "no coincidence the [opposition] Tisza Party is directly financed from Ukraine, as confirmed in the national security report submitted to the Hungarian parliament."

"To ensure Hungarians remain safe after the election, we must defeat not only the Hungarian opposition but also President Zelensky -- and we will succeed," he declared.

Szijjarto: 'Ukrainians will run out of money before we run out of oil'

No progress is expected in the Druzhba oil pipeline issue until the April elections, but if the current government remains in power, Ukraine will be forced to make an agreement, as "their money will run out before our oil does", Peter Szijjarto, the foreign affairs and trade minister said on Tuesday.

Szijjarto said he did not expect any progress on the issue of the Druzhba oil pipeline blockade until the upcoming parliamentary election, as Ukraine was trying to influence the outcome of the election by halting delivery.

"The Ukrainian company operating the pipeline has repeatedly indicated to [Hungarian state oil company] MOL that the pipeline is in good working order and that they are only waiting for political instructions to start transport. It is no coincidence that they are not allowing Hungarian and Slovak inspectors to go there to see what the problem is. They are not allowing EU inspectors in either, which shows that they are afraid of a huge embarrassment," he said in a speech to students at Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) in Szolnok, in central Hungary, according to a ministry statement.

"I think the situation is clear. So if we win the election, which is quite likely, and we continue, then the Ukrainians will have to coexist with us, and their money will run out before our oil does," he added.

Szijjarto said the war was a business model in Ukraine today.

"So the money that Ukrainians receive from the European Union because of the war is more than what the Ukrainian economy can produce in peacetime. So far, the Ukrainians have received 193 billion euros from the European Union over the past four years," he said.

"They live off what they get from the EU. And, how can I put it, their lifestyle reflects that. That's why this 90 billion euro war loan, so to speak, is important to them ... because they are running out of money. And if it becomes clear that they will have to look to us for at least another four years, then they will have to come to an agreement immediately after the election," he added.

MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com
 

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