Thu Sep 26 14:46:30 UTC 2024: ## Hungary’s Top Aide Sparks Outrage with Comments on Ukrainian Defense

**BUDAPEST, Hungary** – A top advisor to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has come under fire for suggesting Hungary wouldn’t have defended itself against a Russian invasion, unlike Ukraine. Balázs Orbán, who is not related to the Prime Minister, made the controversial remarks on his podcast, arguing that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to militarily resist the Russian invasion was “irresponsible.”

Orbán, who is the political director of the nationalist Prime Minister and a key advisor on foreign and domestic policy, compared the situation to Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, which was brutally suppressed by the Red Army. He stated that Hungary learned a lesson from the uprising, claiming that “precious Hungarian lives” should be prioritized over defending the country, suggesting that Hungary would have opted for a different course of action.

This statement has been met with widespread condemnation, with Péter Magyar, leader of Hungary’s strongest opposition party, calling for Orbán’s resignation by the 68th anniversary of the 1956 revolution. Magyar argued that Orbán’s comments “humiliated the memory of the thousands of Hungarian freedom fighters” who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence.

The controversy further highlights Hungary’s increasingly adversarial stance towards Ukraine and its close ties to Russia. The Orbán government has consistently opposed EU efforts to support Ukraine financially and militarily, leading to accusations that Hungary is acting in favor of Russia and attempting to weaken EU unity.

Balázs Orbán later defended his comments, claiming that they were “twisted” by “pro-war propaganda” and that he holds the heroes of the 1956 revolution in high regard. However, his initial comments have sparked a national debate on Hungary’s stance on the war in Ukraine and its historical ties to Russia.

This incident is likely to further strain relations between Hungary and its European allies, as the government’s perceived pro-Russian stance continues to raise concerns within the EU.

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