Europe

Ukraine tempers expectations as Hungary's election nears
Europe

Ukraine tempers expectations as Hungary's election nears

by Martin Fornusek

Ukraine expects no miracles from Hungary's April 12 elections. This weekend, Hungarian voters may end Viktor Orban's 16-year rule, potentially unblocking vital EU funding for Kyiv and its path toward membership. But the Hungarian prime minister — backed by both Washington and Moscow — has stacked the electoral playing field in his favor. And his main challenger, Tisza leader Peter Magyar, remains an unknown quantity for Ukraine. As the vote nears, the Kyiv Independent spoke to local experts a

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Russia is giving its masterclass in election interference ahead of Hungary's vote

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In Hungary's most consequential election in years, JD Vance did too little too late

The visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Budapest was intended to provide a timely boost to Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of Hungary's parliamentary elections this Sunday. Instead, the visit just highlighted the widening gap between the government's international agenda and the domestic realities facing Hungarian voters. In a campaign defined by economic hardship and the sudden rise of a formidable opposition, the arrival of a senior American official felt more like a desperate distrac

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (R) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L)  in Budapest, Hungary, on April 7, 2026.
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