Ukraine Interfering In Hungary Election Amid War With Russia, Foreign Minister Claims

Hungary on Wednesday accused Ukraine of interfering in the upcoming Hungarian election, a claim that Ukrainian officials vehemently denied.

In a video posted on his official Facebook page, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the Hungarian left and representatives of the Ukrainian government, including Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, were engaging in an “ongoing coordination.”

The Hungarian official also claimed Ukraine was attempting to influence the upcoming election, which will take place on April 3, to favor the opposition. He said the opposition promised to send arms to Ukraine and sanction Russia should they win the election.

Szijjarto did not offer any evidence to support his claim of Ukrainian interference. He also did not disclose how he came about the information. The allegations come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Hungary for its neutral stance amid the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“Hungary … I want to stop here and be honest. Once and for all. You have to decide for yourself who you are with,” Zelensky said, addressing Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a speech to EU leaders. “Listen, Viktor, do you know what’s going on in Mariupol?”

In mid-March, Orban said his government will not send any weapons to aid Ukraine in the war. He added that members of the Hungarian left were aiming to drag the country into the “ruthless and bloody war.”

"We must stay out of this war ... therefore we will not send any troops or weapons to the battlegrounds," Orban told supporters during a rally.

In addition to refusing to supply Ukraine with arms, Hungary has prohibited the transfer of weapons to Ukraine across its borders. The government has also opposed imposing sanctions against Russian energy imports, saying that doing so would negatively impact Hungary’s economy. Orban claimed that 85% of his country’s gas and 60% of its oil come from Russia.

Orban’s decision not to sanction Russia has also drawn the ire of the Polish government, which has been outspoken in its support for Ukraine amid the war. Speaking to a public radio show, Poland’s ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kacynski said he was displeased with Orban’s stance on the issue.

On Sunday, Orban will seek a fourth consecutive term. He has ruled Hungary for 12 years.