“Hungarians don’t want to die for Ukraine”: Orbán responds to criticism from Zelensky

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán responded to an interview given by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Hungarian outlet Válasz Online.

Orbán published his response on his Facebook page.

“Zelensky lashed out at us because Hungarians don’t want to die for Ukraine. We don’t want our children coming back from the front in coffins, and we don’t want Hungarian money going to Ukraine!” the Hungarian Prime Minister wrote.

In the interview, Zelensky claimed that Orbán’s policies are directed against Ukraine.

“Viktor’s policy, unfortunately, is aimed against Ukraine. And against Europe. He uses this in his domestic politics: he wants to exploit the war in Ukraine for his own benefit in the elections. It’s dishonest. He floods society with false information that radicalizes people. This worsens our bilateral relations,” Zelensky stated.

In response, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács, commenting on Zelensky’s interview, claimed that the Ukrainian president is openly campaigning in favor of Hungary’s opposition party TISZA.