Former Ukrainian President Viktor Juscsenko has called on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to reassess his relationship with Russia, urging him to “face the truth.” The appeal comes amid strained relations between Ukraine and Hungary, and escalating tensions surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Viktor Juscsenko egy 2015-ös rendezvényen – Fotó: Leigh Vogel / Getty Images / AFP
Juscsenko, who served as Ukraine’s president from 2005 to 2010, shared his views on the relationship between the two countries on Facebook, posting a 1999 photo of himself with Orbán. He stated he remembers a different leader than the one currently in power. “He was a leader who understood the value of dignity and who knew what it felt like to break free from the shackles of an empire,” Juscsenko wrote.
“Looking at your actions, I ask myself: where has that Viktor gone? How can someone who witnessed the creation of a free Hungary serve the forces that want to trample on the freedom of a neighboring country?”
Juscsenko urged Orbán to pause and reflect on the man he once was. “History… does not forgive those who remained silent during great trials, or who helped evil. This proves not too late to return to the light, to true European brotherhood, where honor is valued, not dubious political deals,” the former Ukrainian leader said.
He argued that politics is not simply about numbers, profit, or gas, but fundamentally about values. “When you side with the aggressor, you betray not only Ukraine – but also the memory of your own people, who know what Soviet tanks on the streets of Budapest mean,” he stated.
Juscsenko is known for his pro-Western policies and leadership during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in the early 2000s. In 2004, he suffered severe poisoning, later diagnosed as dioxin contamination, and alleged it was an attempt on his life by political rivals. The visible effects of the poisoning remain on his face. The Orange Revolution erupted after the first and second rounds of the 2004 presidential election due to reports of widespread fraud, with Juscsenko winning a rerun against Viktor Yanukovych.
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. The Orbán government has accused Ukraine of halting oil shipments through the Friendship pipeline for political reasons, leading to the dispatch of an investigative delegation to Kyiv.
Two Ukrainian vans carrying the equivalent of over 27 billion forints in gold and currency were detained near Budapest by Hungarian authorities on suspicion of money laundering. During the operation, TEK commandos forced the seven Ukrainian citizens involved in the transport to the ground and handcuffed them, though they were later released without charges and subsequently expelled from Hungary. The vehicles were returned to authorities on Thursday.
Hungarian media, particularly outlets aligned with the Fidesz party and the government, have widely circulated statements from a former Ukrainian Member of Parliament, Hrihorij Omelchenko, which were perceived as a personal threat against Orbán and his family. Omelchenko, a 75-year-classic retired head of intelligence, has not held a parliamentary seat since 2007. The interview, in which he discusses Orbán’s democratic past and role in the transition from communism, included harsh rhetoric. He referenced a previous open letter to the prime minister, calling him Putin’s concubine and a neo-fascist. More on this can be found here.
