One of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s closest aides is facing backlash over statements he made suggesting that Hungary, unlike Ukraine, would not have defended itself against a Russian invasion.

Balázs Orbán made comparisons between the 1956 Hungarian Uprising and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, which didn't sit well with the opposition at home.

If it were in Ukraine's shoes, Budapest wouldn't have fought the Russians, said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's top aide. Balázs Orbán, the political director of his namesake (but no relation to him), was a guest on a podcast on Wednesday where he talked about Ukraine's self-defense against Russian aggression.