91 percent of those surveyed believe that tensions regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis should be moderated, according to a March poll by Századvég. The survey mapped who the Hungarian population considers responsible for the worsening of the armed conflict, what they think about our country's relationship with Russia, and the direction to be followed by Hungary in connection with the emerging crisis situation.
As a starting point, it is important to state that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia cannot be considered new. Since the Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, the tension between the two countries has been constant, so the military operations in Ukraine that began at the end of February - undertaken by Russia - can be interpreted as another chapter of the protracted crisis. Given that the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin have escalated the conflict in question, it is less surprising that among the Hungarian respondents overall, more people consider Russia responsible for the worsening of the situation (32 percent) than Zelensky-led Ukraine (13 percent).
Source: End of the century
However, the survey highlights that
according to 47 percent of Hungarians, both sides are responsible for the worsening of the conflict, the background of which is presumably that the public is calling for a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict as soon as possible, avoiding it becoming of a European dimension.
In recent years, Hungary has strived for balanced and peaceful relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Accordingly, only 25 percent of the respondents see that Hungarian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would serve the interests, while the overwhelming majority (71 percent) believe that Viktor Orbán also wants to maintain peaceful relations with Russia, thereby guaranteeing Hungarian gas and energy supplies.
Source: End of the century
according to two-thirds of the respondents (66 percent), Hungary's relationship with Russia established in recent years is beneficial in the current situation in terms of preserving the peace and security of our country and avoiding Hungary-Russia's involvement in the war, while 25 percent expressed the opposite opinion.
Some of the left-wing parties and the media sympathizing with them are advocating aggressive action against Russia. Based on the research, however, it can be concluded that – in accordance with the data measured by Századvég in February –
9 out of 10 Hungarians (90 percent) believe that our country cannot drift into an armed conflict, and that guaranteeing Hungary's security comes first.
Source: End of the century
Overall, it can be stated that the Hungarian population expects restraint from all public actors in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and urges a sober approach to the conflict.
Source: szazadveg.hu
Featured image: Zoltán Bors/Knap
