Is Viktor Orban really ‘pro-Russian’?

Hungary’s push for sovereignty and pragmatic diplomacy suggests a more complex reality “You can pursue a sensible policy… as an EU member only if you are sovereign [as a nation],” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said during his first meeting with journalists from international media outlets this year. That meeting was quite significant, since Orban laid out his team’s approach to both foreign and domestic policies – an approach that has drawn sharp criticism from the European Commission. When asked about Hungary’s potential exit from the EU, he said that “EU membership is an important option,” dispelling any notions that he wants the bloc to be dismantled. However, regarding migration, he declared, “Hungary will not accept Brussels deciding who we should live with.” His reaction to the January 2026 kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American forces was also noteworthy. Orban called it “a new language... that the world will speak in the future.” Essentially, he acknowledged the erosion of the ‘rules-based order’ – a concept the EU defends to maintain itself as a prominent center for moral and political judgment on global events. Orban also said, “It makes sense to have optimal relations with other blocs [besides the EU], including America, Russia, China, the Arab and Turkish worlds.” Read more Battle for Hungary: How the country’s election became a battleground between the US and EU Since 2014, European leaders have been skeptical about dialogue with Russia, though they managed to hide this skepticism under a mask of rationality and continue business and political contacts. However, following the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, all contacts were severed, and European governments that sought pragmatic ties with Moscow were close to being labeled unfriendly. Naturally, such dictates from Brussels were supposed to be followed by all EU members.

Rebellious European politicians were instantly branded ‘pro-Russian’. Orban too fell under this category because of his calls to establish dialogue with Russia. However, before labeling Orban ‘pro-Russian’, we should delve deeper into Hungary’s political psychology. Hungary’s three grievances The struggle for self-determination is deeply rooted in the mindset of the Hungarian political class. Following the collapse of the socialist bloc, for the first time in centuries Budapest had a real opportunity to pursue an independent policy. Hungary’s historical worldview stems from the fact that in the 20th century, its fate was determined by external powers in three instances. This has significantly shaped the psychology of today’s politicians: They understand that, in decisive moments, Hungary might not have any allies. The first example occurred in 1920, when the Treaty of Trianon was signed at the end of the First World War. The victorious countries – Britain, Italy, France, and the United States – effectively dismembered Hungary, stripping away about two-thirds of its territory in favor of neighbors like Czechoslovakia, Romania, Yugoslavia, and Austria. A portion of Hungary’s historical lands later became part of Ukraine. Read more Battle for Hungary: RT’s definitive guide to the Hungarian election This relates to the ‘Greater Hungary’ concept which encompasses territories currently beyond Budapest’s control. Notably, Orban has appeared in public wearing a scarf with the geographical outlines of Greater Hungary – a potent political statement reminding everyone that Hungary has not forgotten its history. The second time, the fate of Hungary was shaped by the USSR, the US, and the UK at the Yalta Conference following the Second World War. Budapest then becam