Zelensky Calls Vance's Visit to Hungary 'Inappropriate' Ahead of Elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his disapproval of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Hungary, which took place just before the country's elections. Zelensky remarked that such a visit is 'inappropriate' and does not promote stability in the region.

In an interview published in The Guardian on April 9, Zelensky emphasized that he does not intend to interfere in Hungary's internal politics, as the decisions regarding the election results, scheduled for Sunday, should be made by the Hungarian voters themselves.

At the same time, the Ukrainian president stressed the necessity of strengthening security cooperation in Europe, especially given the uncertain commitments of the United States to NATO. He called for closer coordination among the European Union, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Norway to create a security bloc capable of countering aggression from Russia.

'Without Ukraine and Turkey, Europe will not have an army comparable to that of Russia,' Zelensky stated, adding that Kyiv will eventually join the European Union.

It is noteworthy that J.D. Vance indicated that his visit to Hungary was at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump, as they claimed the European Union was attempting to interfere in the elections. This information was reported by the Hungarian publication Telex.

During a rally in which Vance supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he also reiterated Orban's longstanding criticisms of Kyiv, Zelensky, and the EU, which have become central themes in Orban's electoral campaign. Vance alleged that these entities had sought to meddle in elections in both the U.S. and Hungary.

'This is just what they do. It is part of the cost of dealing with some elements of their system. I try to remind myself that Ukraine, like the United States, is a very complicated place,' he said, as reported by the Ukrainian publication European Truth.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Hungarian opposition, Peter Magyar, criticized what he termed external interference, emphasizing that Hungary's history is not written in Washington, Brussels, Kyiv, Moscow, or Belgrade, but exclusively in Hungary.

This situation underscores the significance of Hungary's internal politics, as well as the challenges Europe faces amid rising tensions between the West and Russia. The elections in Hungary could serve as a crucial test for the country's political direction and its relationships with Western partners.