Ten months ago, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and gave shelter to Ukrainian refugees. But since then, he has done little to change his reputation as a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a threat to European unity in his support for Kyiv.. The populist prime minister eased sanctions against the Russian Federation, denied the transfer of weapons and other military assistance to Ukraine, and also blocked Kyiv's talks on approaching NATO.

So when Budapest lifted a veto over a planned €18 billion EU aid package to Ukraine last month, diplomats and pundits saw it as a temporary break in tense relations between Hungary and Ukraine.. Deep divisions between countries could hinder the EU's ability to help Ukraine counter Russia's offensive this year, experts say..

“Ukrainian ties in the thinking of Hungary have always been subordinated to ties with Russia. This year they were also subject to EU trading. Hungary was ready to refuse assistance to Ukraine in the absence of an agreement with the European Union,” said expert Andras Rach from the German Council on Foreign Relations.

Critics say Hungary used aid to Ukraine as tool to negotiate EU funding packages. Brussels announces delayed deadlines to prove it has implemented rule of law reforms. Last needed to unlock billions of euro pandemic recovery and cohesion funds. Other EU member states now fear that if the EU discusses a final decision on this matter, any issue that requires unanimous agreement, such as further assistance to Ukraine, could again become a hostage to Hungary..

“The main differences with Hungary have remained unchanged, and this will become a problem again, as in the spring. The EU was ready to tolerate this unfinished business now. The alternative would be complete isolation of Hungary,” said an EU diplomat familiar with the talks..

The publication noted that Hungary was in a quandary at the beginning of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is one of the most dependent countries in the EU on Russian oil and gas.. At the same time, Hungary was involved in lengthy disputes with Ukraine, especially over the rights for ethnic Hungarians..

Budapest secured exceptions on aspects such as a ban on energy imports, voted for every package of EU sanctions against Moscow. And in recent weeks, he froze Russian assets worth 870 million euros.. However, other steps, according to the FT, indicate Hungary's intention to maintain an open dialogue with Russia..

In June, Budapest threatened to veto sanctions unless symbolic leaders of the Russian regime, such as pro-war Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, were rescued.. Last month, Hungary threatened to lift the ninth round of EU sanctions until it secures exemptions for Russia's energy, health and sports ministers..

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While other countries have expelled dozens of Russian diplomats on espionage charges, Hungary hosts an embassy with twice as many staff as Moscow's missions in Warsaw, Prague and Bratislava combined.

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Domestically, Orban is not under pressure to change tactics as many Hungarians express deep distrust of Ukrainians. Kyiv's ban on education in minority languages \u200b\u200b- mainly aimed at Russian speakers - has affected more than 100 schools for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine. Budapest blocked Ukraine's ambitions to move closer to NATO, demanding the restoration of these minority rights. At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers held in November 2022, Hungary opposed the invitation of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to official meetings.

The publication noted that the publicist Zsolt Bayer, who is a close associate of Prime Minister Orban, criticized the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky: “Who is he? Brazen, dumb, corrupt, chauvinistic pig raised from America. Enough for us Zelensky"

Ukrainians don't trust Hungary either. According to the FT, 42% of respondents in a recent poll considered Hungarians to be hostile to Ukraine.. Kuleba said last week that bilateral relations will not improve as long as Orban remains in power..

“Ukrainian-Hungarian ties are at a minimum level. Ties between the EU and Hungary are also terrible, and Budapest is reaching out to the Russians, who welcome them warmly and send them gas, despite the fact that they entailed a bloody and tragic war,” said the EU diplomat.

Orban has long anticipated Russian victories, saying in July that "

“Hungary expected that the war would go like the annexation of Crimea in 2014… But everything has changed,” the diplomat said.

While Orban, proud of his "

“Mutual trust between Hungary and Ukraine is at a very low level,” said Brussels-based foreign policy analyst Botond Feledy..

They clashed just before the Hungarian elections last April, when Zelenskiy's demand that Budapest side with Russia's invasion drew an angry rebuke from Orban.. Zelensky invited Orban to Ukraine during a June telephone conversation. But the couple has yet to meet, and Orban said a visit to Kyiv is " The EU diplomat added: “Hungary is ill-prepared? to the complete separation from Russia that others are now striving for"

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Recall, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in a Christmas interview with Magyar Nemzet, said that as long as the United States supports Ukraine and provides weapons, the war will continue and will drag on..

In turn, Ukrainian stated that the statements of the Prime Minister of Hungary demonstrate a pathological disregard for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who oppose Russian aggression, as well as his own political myopia. After all, the defeat of Ukraine in the war, which Viktor Orban indirectly calls for, would lead to a direct threat of Russian aggression to Hungary and the Hungarians..