‘We will not be Ukrainian colony’ – massive rally held in Budapest (VIDEO)

Tens of thousands of Hungarians flooded the streets of Budapest on Sunday in a show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban. People from all over the country joined a ‘Peace March’ in the capital held under the slogan: “We will not be a Ukrainian colony!”

The Orban government has long opposed the EU’s policy of arming and funding Ukraine against Russia, as well as Ukraine’s bid to join the bloc. Tensions between Budapest and Kiev have escalated over the past months as Ukraine first suspended Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via a Soviet-built pipeline and its leader, Vladimir Zelensky, then made personal threats against Orban.

On Sunday, Orban delivered a speech to his supporters in front of the parliament, calling on Kiev to abandon its hostile policies. “You see, Zelensky, this is the thousand-year-old state of the Hungarians. And you think you can scare us with an oil blockade, blackmail, and threats against our leaders? Be smart and stop this,” the prime minister said.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who was also present at the rally, claimed that Brussels and Kiev wanted to overthrow Orban’s government “because they want Zelensky to form a government in Hungary as well.”

Photos and videos published on social media show massive crowds of people waving national flags and marching through central Budapest. The demonstrators were carrying a large banner reading that Hungary would not be a “colony” of Ukraine. Some rally participants were also carrying placards with crossed-out images of Zelensky and Orban’s key rival at the upcoming elections, Peter Magyar. Magyar’s Tisza Party held a massive rally of its own on Sunday as well.

In early March, the Hungarian authorities detained a convoy carrying up to $100 million worth of cash and gold, reportedly destined for a Ukrainian state bank, as part of a probe into money laundering. Zelensky suggested on the same day his military could be sent to speak with Orban “in its own language.” Both Orban and Magyar denounced the threats.