A significant protest took place outside the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest, backed by supporters of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, including notable political figures such as Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. The demonstration, organized by the National Resistance Movement, was primarily focused on the controversies surrounding the Druzhba oil pipeline and the broader impacts of the war in Ukraine. Over a hundred attendees expressed their disapproval with placards portraying the Ukrainian President as a puppet of Western interests, particularly targeting Orbán's political rival in the upcoming elections, Péter Magyar.

During the protest, Foreign Minister Szijjártó delivered a speech criticizing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as "meaningless and hopeless", raising concerns about the implications of Ukrainian mobilization on Hungarian citizens. Szijjártó's remarks were particularly inflammatory, framing the mobilization as an "open manhunt in the streets," which has fueled discontent among the Hungarian populace. This rhetoric underscores the growing tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, as Hungary grapples with the spillover effects of the war on its citizens and political landscape.

The protest highlights the complex dynamics of Hungarian politics, particularly regarding the relationship with Ukraine and how the ongoing war has become a pivotal issue in the lead-up to elections. The portrayal of Ukrainian leadership in derogatory terms reflects a broader narrative being constructed by Orbán's supporters to galvanize opposition to the ruling government in Kyiv, ultimately showing how the war is being leveraged for domestic political gain within Hungary, signaling that issues relating to Ukraine are destined to remain central in Hungarian political discourse for the foreseeable future.