MOSCOW – The Russian government accused European Union political forces Wednesday of working against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s re-election campaign and assisting his political challengers.
Moscow’s claims emerged one day after U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest and called EU involvement in Hungary’s April 12 election “disgraceful.” Current polling data indicates Orban’s 16-year hold on power may be coming to an end.
“Many forces in Europe, many forces in Brussels, would not like Orban to win the elections again,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov during a press briefing. His comments addressed questions about a leaked conversation transcript between Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Bloomberg published.
“This is well-known, it’s obvious to the naked eye, and, of course, they’re playing into the hands of those forces that politically oppose Orban and believe that publishing such materials could harm him,” Peskov explained to journalists.
The Kremlin spokesman offered no proof of EU officials’ involvement in the document leak. A European Commission representative responded by stating: “Elections are the sole choice of the citizens.”
President Donald Trump has publicly backed Orban’s campaign for another term, with Vance reinforcing that support during his Tuesday visit to Budapest. The Hungarian leader, known for his nationalist positions, has continued friendly relations with Putin throughout the Ukraine conflict, even as the EU works to isolate Russia through multiple rounds of economic penalties.
Hungary continues depending heavily on Russian energy supplies for oil and natural gas. Orban has prevented implementation of a European Union loan package for Ukraine that was approved in December, citing disagreements with Kyiv regarding a war-damaged oil pipeline.
The Bloomberg-published transcript revealed Orban telling Putin he was at his service and referencing a Hungarian tale about a mouse assisting a lion.
Peskov declined to dispute the authenticity of those statements, instead characterizing them as evidence of Orban’s practical approach to governance.
“He is indeed a very effective politician… one who is specifically defending the interests of his own country,” Peskov stated.
