Hungary's Orban claims he can keep nation out of Ukraine war

Hungary’s nationalist prime minister has portrayed his country’s upcoming election on Sunday as an existential turning point and a choice between war and peace

SZEKESFEHERVAR, Hungary -- Hungary's nationalist prime minister on Friday portrayed his country's upcoming election as an existential turning point and a choice between war and peace as he made a final appeal to voters at a campaign rally in a rural stronghold.

Viktor Orban, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term as the head of Hungary's government, has campaigned on the promise that if re-elected in Hungary's parliamentary election Sunday, he will protect the country's peace and security and maintain Russian energy imports as war rages in neighboring Ukraine.

Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party is facing what polls suggest will be the closest election in more than a decade.

“This isn’t our war, we have to stay out of it," Orban said Friday to hundreds of supporters in the central Hungarian city of Szekesfehervar. "We can stay out by not sending soldiers or weapons, and not allowing arms shipments through Hungary’s territory, because then we’ll immediately become a military target.”