US Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday for making what he described as “scandalous” remarks about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Vance echoed Budapest’s claims that Kyiv was manipulating energy supplies to influence Hungary’s upcoming election.
Vance’s comments came during a visit to Budapest, where he aimed to bolster support for Orban, who faces his most challenging election in 16 years on April 12. This election is viewed as pivotal for the influence of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement in Europe.
Hungary’s tense relationship with Ukraine has become a central issue in the campaign. Budapest accuses Kyiv of deliberately halting Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline to sway the vote. In retaliation, Hungary blocked a €90 billion ($105 billion) EU loan to Ukraine. In response, Zelenskiy threatened to provide the address of those responsible to the Ukrainian military, suggesting they could “speak with him in their own language.”
Addressing a Hungarian university, Vance revealed that Orban had shared Zelenskiy’s remarks with him. He condemned the Ukrainian president’s statements, saying, “It’s completely scandalous. A foreign head of government should never threaten the leader of an allied nation.”
Vance also criticized the media for what he called double standards in reporting on foreign election interference. He referenced the 2016 US presidential election, noting that American media labeled Russian purchases of Facebook ads as a major scandal. “That’s foreign influence,” he said. “But what’s not foreign influence is when the European Union withholds billions from Hungary because it protects its borders. What’s not foreign influence is when Ukrainians shut down pipelines, causing hardship for the Hungarian people to influence an election.”
Hungary has long been at odds with the European Union over issues such as judicial independence and migrant policies. Neither the Ukrainian presidency nor the European Commission immediately responded to requests for comment.
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