Orban includes Zelenskyy on his list of foes
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban celebrated his landslide re-election win on Sunday with a familiar tirade vilifying those he sees as his adversaries.
In his victory speech, he included Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy on the list in describing the “overwhelming force” he said his party had struggled against in the election: “The left at home, the international left all around, the Brussels bureaucrats, the Soros empire with all its money, the international mainstream media, and in the end, even the Ukrainian president.”
On Saturday Zelenskyy depicted the Hungarian leader as out of touch with the rest of Europe, which has united to condemn Putin, support sanctions against Russia and send aid including weapons to Ukraine.
“He is virtually the only one in Europe to openly support Mr Putin,” Zelenskyy said.
Orban, a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin, has insisted that Hungary remain neutral and maintain its close economic ties with Moscow, including continuing to import Russian gas and oil on favourable terms.
Alone among Ukraine’s EU neighbours, Orban has refused to supply Ukraine with weapons, saying this would make Hungary a military target.
“This isn’t our war, we have to stay out of it,” Orban said at a rally on Friday.
(with AP)