Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched in Budapest on June 1 in support of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who faces a challenge from a political newcomer ahead of next week's European Parliament elections.
The demonstration, dubbed by organizers as a "peace march," drew Orban supporters from all over Hungary and neighboring countries.
Orban hopes his Fidesz party, which is not affiliated with any grouping in the European Parliament, will benefit in the June 9 election from a rise in far-right support across Europe.
Fidesz is leading in Hungarian polls, but victory is not assured in light of a challenge by the new Respect and Freedom party, formed by former Fidesz insider Peter Magyar, who has amassed thousands of supporters and is posing the most serious challenge in Orban's 14 years in power.
SEE ALSO: Magyar, Nagy Tell Supporters Change Impossible To Stop In HungaryOrban said victory in the elections "is needed" and predicted that Fidesz would receive "reinforcements" from every European country and be able to form a pro-peace European coalition in Brussels.
He also commented on the U.S. presidential election, saying that Americans in November will have "a chance to elect a pro-peace president," referring to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
"Together with [the Americans], we will be able to form a pan-Western trans-Atlantic peace coalition," Orban said. "At the beginning of this year, we were a minority. At the end of this year, we may represent a majority throughout the Western world."
Orban has long been at odds with fellow EU members over several issues, including his refusal to send weapons to Ukraine. He addressed the flag-waving crowd, saying that Europe "must be prevented from rushing into war, into its own destruction."
Orban, who has repeatedly said Ukraine cannot win, said the war "has no solution on the battlefield" and reiterated his call for negotiations to end the full-scale invasion Russia launched in 2022.
Orban also sent greetings to ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine's Transcarpathia region who he said were desperately waiting for the war to end.
"We wish you strength," he said. "We are with you. You are in our thoughts. And we assure you: The day is not far when your fortunes will turn for the better."
He also sent greetings to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who survived an assassination attempt on May 15.
Referring to Fico as Slovakia's pro-peace prime minister, he said he was shot because he had supported peace.
He wished Fico a speedy recovery and said once Fico returns to his duties, "Hungary with Slovakia will continue to fight for peace together."