Why Zelenskyy should change his tactics towards Orbán and how

The current Hungarian government, which is waging an open information war not only against Ukraine but also against the European Union, its common rules and its values, has long ceased to be only Ukraine’s problem.

There is now practically a consensus in their negative attitude towards Viktor Orbán and his government within the EU leadership. These feelings are mutual: anti-European rhetoric has been a central element of the campaigning of Hungary’s ruling party Fidesz for several electoral cycles in a row.

Against this background, the silence of Europeans in response is notable. In fact, EU institutions have even made a decision to refrain from criticising Orbán until election day, which is set to be held on 12 April.

Kyiv has chosen a completely different line. An honest one, but entirely undiplomatic, as is often the case with Zelenskyy.

The problem, however, is that Orbán himself benefits from these statements coming from Ukraine. In Hungary, which is preparing for elections, they benefit him alone.

Read more about why this tactic should be abandoned as soon as possible in the important article by Sergiy Sydorenko, European Pravda's editor: Harmful for us, beneficial for Orbán. Zelenskyy must stop 'feeding' Hungarian propaganda. 

Ukraine and Orbán’s Hungary have long ceased to be friendly states.

For many years Hungary has abused its membership in the EU and NATO by blocking these alliances' decisions regarding Ukraine.

Since 2022, NATO has decided it has had enough and now simply ignores Hungary’s veto on Ukraine, formalising necessary actions through decisions of the Secretary General when needed. The EU has different rules, so this workaround is not possible there. As a result, Orbán focuses his vetoes on the EU track, where from time to time he bargains something out of Brussels, eases the pressure and then later restores it.

Tensions in the relationship also fluctuate in waves.

Now tensions between Kyiv and Budapest have reached a new peak. At the moment, the Ukrainian president is openly burning bridges in relations with his Hungarian counterpart.

The harshness of Kyiv’s rhetoric towards the Hungarian leadership has intensified since early 2026.

But why don’t we hear the same thing from European counterparts?

The reason is that this criticism is exactly what Orbán needs. Public pressure on Hungary from abroad fuels Hungarian propaganda and allows Orbán to mobilise supporters who, under calmer circumstances, might not go to the polling station.

This is precisely what is happening now thanks to Zelenskyy’s statements.

It must be emphasised: Ukraine as a state and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as president gain no advantages from criticising the Hungarian authoritarian leader.

Moreover, the victory of the leader of the opposition Tisza party, Péter Magyar, is not guaranteed.

Given Hungary’s distorted electoral system, Orbán still has a chance to win the elections again. And in the month remaining before the vote, something extraordinary could still happen.

In this case, the old-new prime minister of the neighbouring state will be a politician with whom Zelenskyy personally burned bridges before the elections.

The principle that "things can’t get any worse" is fundamentally flawed. They can always get worse.

Therefore, Kyiv’s current tactic of anti-Orbán statements should be changed as soon as possible. It brings Ukraine no benefits, only disadvantages.