Magyar delivered the remarks at a rally in central Budapest marking Hungary's national day, which commemorates the 1848 uprising against Habsburg rule, a revolt that was ultimately crushed by the Russian Empire.

Hungary goes to the polls on 12 April. Magyar's Tisza Party leads Orbán's Fidesz in most opinion polls.

Fidesz has governed Hungary with an absolute parliamentary majority since 2010.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says Ukraine, with the EU’s help, is trying to interfere in his elections.

The clash comes from a fight over the Druzhba pipeline, which brings discounted Russian oil to Hungary through Ukraine.

Hungary has blocked a €50 billion EU aid package for Ukraine until the pipeline issue is fixed. The disagreement has turned personal, with Orbán and Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy trading sharp words.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán slammed Ukraine in a direct message:

“Do you see this, Ukrainians? Do you see this, Zelenskyy? This is the thousand-year-old Hungarian state. You think oil blockades and threats can scare us? Think again.”

The feud heated up after Zelenskyy reportedly suggested Ukrainian troops could contact European leaders who were blocking EU aid and the Hungary called this a direct threat.

Orbán fired back:

“Don’t you have enough problems on your eastern front? Give us our oil, then go chase money in Brussels.”

This comes after Hungary seized $40 million, €35 million, and 9kg of gold from Ukrainian cash trucks near Budapest.

The Ukraine says the transport was legal and accused Hungary of state terrorism, escalating tensions between the two countries.

Consistently portraying the vote as an existential decision, Orbán has framed the upcoming elections as a stark choice between peace and war.

He frequently characterizes the European Union as a pro-war entity, actively escalating the conflict in Ukraine through financial aid and discussions of deploying ground troops.

"It is time for Kyiv and Brussels to understand that our sons will not die for Ukraine, they will live for Hungary," Orbán declared.

He further personalized the election, asking,

"We must choose who should form a government, me or Zelenskyy? I offer myself, with due modesty."

Orbán reiterated his belief that both Ukraine and the EU have a vested interest in a change of government in Hungary and urged his Fidesz party to surpass its previous electoral performance, setting an ambitious target of at least three million votes.