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U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance sparked controversy during his visit to Hungary with a series of statements about Ukraine and the European Union, openly backing Viktor Orbán ahead of upcoming elections. The remarks were made during a joint press conference with Orbán.
According to Vance, Ukrainian intelligence allegedly includes elements that “attempt to influence election outcomes in the United States and Hungary.” “This is their standard practice. It is part of the price you pay when dealing with certain elements of their system,” he said, echoing claims often promoted by the Hungarian government. He also alleged that individuals within Ukraine’s system were campaigning in support of Democrats just weeks before the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Vance also criticized the European Union while defending Orbán’s policies, claiming that “bureaucrats in Brussels” are trying to undermine Hungary out of personal hostility toward its leader. “Bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy Hungary’s economy, make it less energy independent, and increase costs for Hungarian consumers,” he said, adding that the EU is interfering in Hungary’s domestic politics.
He compared Orbán to U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that the two leaders “have done the most to end the war in Ukraine,” and expressed confidence that Orbán would win the upcoming elections. According to Vance, critics who accuse Orbán of pro-Russian views are themselves responsible for creating a weak energy system in Europe, which, he argued, led to “Ukraine becoming weak and Russia becoming strong.”
Vance arrived in Hungary just days before parliamentary elections. Polls currently suggest that Orbán is trailing behind opposition leader Péter Magyar, his main challenger.
