US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Budapest just days before the Hungarian parliamentary elections to personally support Viktor Orban and make several high-profile statements regarding the war in Ukraine.
As reported by "Hvylya", Western media cited the politician's remarks made during a joint press conference.
According to Vance, Donald Trump and Viktor Orban are the world leaders who have made the maximum effort to stop Russian aggression. The American Vice President assured that they acted through diplomatic channels, trying to understand the needs of both sides of the conflict.
"The two leaders who have done the most to end the war in Ukraine were Donald Trump and Viktor Orban," Vance emphasized.
The politician also addressed official Kyiv. He stated that certain Ukrainian government officials openly played along with the Democrats during the 2024 US election campaign. At the same time, Vance rejected accusations of a pro-Russian stance by the new White House administration, noting that the US does a lot for Europe's energy security.
The American guest also heavily criticized European Union leadership. Vance called the actions of European officials one of the worst examples of foreign election interference. According to him, bureaucrats in Brussels are deliberately trying to destroy Hungary's economy and raise prices for ordinary citizens simply because they dislike Orban.
The Vice President separately touched upon the situation in the Middle East. He warned Iran that the United States possesses powerful tools of economic pressure that remain unused. Trump is ready to deploy them if Tehran does not change its political course, and the resulting damage will be significantly greater than anything Iran could inflict on America or its allies.
The American guest's visit sparked sharp dissatisfaction from the Hungarian opposition. The incumbent prime minister's main rival, Peter Magyar, directly accused the US of interfering in the electoral process. In a post on X, he emphasized that Hungary's history is "not written in Washington, Moscow, or Brussels," and no other state has the right to influence the will of the Hungarian people.
For Viktor Orban, who has continuously ruled the country for 16 years, overseas support is currently critical. According to Politico polls, his Fidesz party is currently trailing Magyar's opposition force. The election campaign itself is taking place amid major scandals: journalists report massive voter bribery in rural villages, while the opposition criticizes the government for negotiating with Russia despite European sanctions.