### Hungarian Prime Minister's Aide Criticizes Ukraine's War Strategy

In a controversial statement, a senior aide to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has labeled Ukraine's resistance to Russia's full-scale invasion as "irresponsible." Balazs Orban, who shares no relation with the Prime Minister, expressed that Hungary would have advised against such resistance, drawing a comparison to Hungary's own anti-Soviet uprising in 1956.

"Considering 1956, we would have probably not done what President Zelensky did 2.5 years ago, as it is irresponsible. We can see that he led his country into a defensive war, many lives were lost, and territories lost," Balazs Orban said in an interview published on September 26. He reiterated that while it is Ukraine's "right and sovereign decision" to defend itself, Hungary would have counseled otherwise based on historical precedents.

In response to Balazs Orban's comments, Peter Magyar, a major opposition figure in Hungary, declared on Facebook that the aide "has no place in public life after his scandalous and traitorous comments." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the issue on national radio on September 27, expressing that his aide's words were a mistake. "Now my political director made an ambiguous statement, which is a mistake, as our community stands on the basis of the 1956 revolution has grown from it," he commented, urging for careful and clear speech on such matters.

Hungary has earned a reputation as one of Russia's key allies within the European Union. Prime Minister Orban has consistently blocked aid to Ukraine, advocated for negotiations, and often echoed Kremlin talking points. While Hungary has formally condemned the war, it has refrained from providing Ukraine with weapons. Since assuming the presidency of the European Commission in July, Orban has intensified his efforts to serve as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, a stance that has triggered disapproval from both the EU and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The controversy around Hungary’s stance deepened in early July when the country modified its National Card program, enabling Russian and Belarusian "guest workers" to enter Hungary with a streamlined visa-acquisition process that bypasses enhanced security checks or other restrictions. This policy change sparked a response from European parliamentarians, who urged a re-evaluation of Hungary's Schengen membership in a published letter.