Balance of Power

Ukraine Catches a Rare Break With Orban’s Defeat in Hungary

The US president sent JD Vance to campaign for Orban, to no avail.

An attendee holds a Hungarian flag during a Tisza party election event across from the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest yesterday.Photographer: Akos Stiller/Bloomberg

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By Anthony Halpin

April 13, 2026 at 10:01 AM UTC

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It used to be rare that a European election result disappointed both the Kremlin and the White House simultaneously. Hungary is different.

For Ukraine, though, Viktor Orban’s defeat is only good news.