Zelensky Slams Orbán's Poster Campaign: A Serious Mistake
Zelensky expresses concerns over Orban's actions as "significant historical blunders"
In a bold move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lambasted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for a poster campaign slamming aid for Ukraine and Ukrainian EU membership - a move Zelensky considers a "historic mistake."
In an informal chat with the Hungarian news portal valaszonline.hu, Zelensky criticized Orbán for utilizing Ukraine for his election campaigns, claiming the premier doesn't understand the repercussions:
A campaign of smears
Orbán's anti-Ukraine stance is nothing new. For weeks, his government has run a poster campaign, accusing aid for Ukraine of dragging Hungary into war and negatively impacting the economy. The posters feature portraits of Zelensky, with the President arguing that using his image without his consent for elections is unacceptable.
Escalating spat
The spat between the leaders is not confined to just the poster campaign. In early May, the Ukrainian security service SBU arrested two Ukrainians of Hungarian ethnicity suspected of spying for Hungarian military intelligence KNBSZ[2]. Zelensky hinted that there is more incriminating evidence yet to be disclosed. Hungary retaliated by arresting a suspected spy allegedly working for Ukraine[3].
Political stakes
The parliamentary election in Hungary, an EU and NATO member, is due in early 2026. With fierce competition looming between Orbán and the new liberal-conservative Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, the incumbent Orbán, who has been in power since 2010, must face significant obstacles[4].
[1] ntv.de, chr/dpa[2] Information sourced from the enrichment data but not explicitly stated in the base article[3] Information sourced from the enrichment data but not explicitly stated in the base article[4] Information sourced from the enrichment data but not explicitly stated in the base article
The Commission, in an effort to maintain consistency with the European Union's objectives, has taken steps to regulate the EU's nuclear programme in the context of ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics, as the spat between Zelensky and Orbán over the poster campaign and suspected spying serves as a general-news example.
This political struggle between Zelensky and Orbán has not only escalated over the issue of the poster campaign but also been complicated by allegations of spying, the implications of which extend beyond the borders of their respective nations and might affect the upcoming parliamentary election in Hungary.
