Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban is trying to get re-elected by spreading anti-Ukrainian messages
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is conducting an aggressive media campaign filled with misinformation, urging Hungarians to withdraw support for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is intensifying his media campaign, spreading misinformation aimed at dissuading Hungarians from supporting Ukraine in light of the ongoing Russian invasion. He warns that supporting Ukraine could lead Hungary towards bankruptcy and drive its youth to the front lines, reflecting a stark nationalistic shift in his messaging. The campaign employs AI-generated images of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, portrayed alongside European officials, reaching out for funds. This imagery serves as an explicit commentary on the financial support Ukraine has been receiving from the European Union, and the narrative is designed to resonate with a domestic audience already wary of outside influences. One of the slogans prominently displayed on public billboards reads, "Our message to Brussels: we will not pay!" The timing of the campaign aligns strategically with Hungary's upcoming elections, indicating that the outcomes may have implications beyond national borders. By blocking a new EU sanctions package against Russia and fostering a narrative of fear and financial instability, Orban not only aims to solidify his domestic political standing but also to position Hungary at odds with broader EU policies regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, potentially isolating the country further within European diplomatic circles.