Kremlin Prepares for Orbán Defeat, Plans to Spin Loss as EU Plot

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is expected to be told that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his team themselves are to blame. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is seen on a general elections poster with texts, reading “Stop the propaganda (over), Come together against the war (down)” in Budapest’s 3rd district on April 9, 2026, a few days before the elections. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Russian authorities are bracing for a potential defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party in the parliamentary elections scheduled for this Sunday, April 12. This was reported by Meduza , citing two sources close to the Russian presidential administration. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “There was initially hope that Orbán and his operatives would be able to turn the tide and win [the elections] on party lists. Then, victory in single-mandate constituencies became the preferred scenario,” one source said. “Now [in the Kremlin] they are admitting that even that will not happen,” the source added. According to Meduza, the Kremlin is preparing to portray Orbán’s potential defeat in state-controlled media as a “color revolution” orchestrated by the European Union. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is expected to be told that Orbán and his team themselves are to blame. “Even with our support, they couldn’t do anything,” one source said. Earlier, Financial Times and The Washington Post reported that Russia had sought to support the ruling Hungarian party, including through a plan to boost its ratings. The strategy reportedly included promoting Orbán as a “strong leader with friends all over the world” and carrying out “information attacks” against his main rival, the Tisza party led by Péter Magyar, portraying him as an “EU plaything.” Other Topics of Interest Joint Ukrainian Operation Hits Russian S-300V System, UAV Command Node Ukrainian forces say a coordinated multi-service joint operation hit a Russian S-300V (NATO: SA-12 “Gladiator”) system, UAV control point, and electronic warfare assets in the Zaporizhzhia sector. One Meduza source noted that while Orbán’s campaign was “of course not managed by the Russian presidential administration,” there was “assistance” on social media. According to polling summarized by Politico , as of March 30, 39% of Hungarians supported Orbán’s party, compared to 48% for Magyar’s, with a significant share of voters still undecided. US President Donald Trump has publicly backed Orbán, calling him “a true friend, a fighter, and a winner,” and saying relations between Washington and Budapest had “reached new heights.” Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest on April 7 ahead of the elections, in an unprecedented move widely seen as a sign of support from the White House. The visit came as a transcript reviewed by Bloomberg indicated that Orbán had offered support to Putin. In a previously unreported call, Orbán said he was ready to assist the Russian president “in any way ,” comparing himself to a “mouse” helping a “lion.” “Yesterday our friendship rose to such a high level that I can help in any way,” Orbán said. “In any matter where I can be of assistance, I am at your service.” During the call, Orbán also offered to help organize a potential summit between Russia and the United States in Budapest. The proposal was discussed with Trump but did not materialize. Putin, in turn, praised Hungary’s “independent and flexible” stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to the transcript. Recent reports have also pointed to close communication between Hungarian and Russian officials on EU-related matters, including sanctions policy. Leaked recordings suggest that Szijjártó promised Russian FM Sergey Lavrov to work toward removing sanctioned Russians from EU lists , coordinating efforts with Slovakia. In an Aug. 30, 2024 call, Szijjártó said Hungary would push to delist Gulbahor Ismailova, the sister of oligarch Alisher Usmanov. Ismailova was removed from EU sanctions seven months later, alongside Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor and Russia’s sports minister Mikhail Degtyaryov. According to an EU diplomat cited by Vsquare, Hungary regularly submits extensive delisting requests and threatens to block broader sanctions packages to secure concessions. In a separate June 30, 2025 call with Russia’s deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin, Szijjártó pushed back against EU energy sanctions and said Hungary and Slovakia had stalled the bloc’s 18th sanctions package to preserve access to Russian oil and gas. The leaks also suggest Szijjártó shared sensitive EU discussions with Moscow . Szijjártó also said he was working to block the sanctions package, claiming he had already helped remove 72 of 128 sanctioned entities and asking Moscow for assistance in shaping arguments to influence EU decisions. Separately, days after Szijjártó met with Putin, Hungarian authorities seized two armored vehicles belonging to Ukraine’s state-owned Oshadbank that were transporting cash through Hungary. Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies.