Of all the European leaders who, publicly or quietly, relished the political demise of Viktor Orban — the autocratic leader who for over 16 years methodically dismantled the checks and balances of Hungary’s relatively young democracy to consolidate his power — probably none was more hopeful than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

While leading a NATO nation, Orban was more closely aligned with Moscow than Brussels. And he was a constant thorn in the side of Zelensky.