The verbal conflict between Ukraine and Hungary persisted this week following an interview on Euronews with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has rejected claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who accused him of offering “specific backing for Putin” by hindering Ukraine’s negotiations to join the EU.
During a Euronews interview on Tuesday, Zelenskyy declared his unwillingness to grant concessions to Budapest, maintaining that Hungary should instead bolster Ukraine’s defence of Europe.
«I don’t believe I should provide anything to Viktor Orbán,» Zelenskyy stated.
«In my opinion, Viktor Orbán must contribute to Ukraine, which safeguards all of Europe against Russia. Even amid the current conflict, we have received no support from him for our way of life,» he added.
Orbán countered these remarks in a statement issued soon after the Euronews interview.
“I categorically deny any suggestion that Hungary owes Ukraine something. Ukraine does not protect Hungary from any threat. We neither requested nor will request such protection. Hungary’s security relies on our national defence and NATO, which thankfully does not include Ukraine,” Orbán asserted.
He pointed out that Hungary has delivered around €200 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and continues to provide gas and electricity to the country affected by war.
The Prime Minister also restated Hungary’s resistance to Ukraine’s bid for EU membership.
“Hungary neither supports nor will support Ukraine’s entry into the European Union, as that would extend the war into Europe and redirect Hungarian taxpayer funds to Ukraine,” Orbán explained, emphasizing his preference for Ukraine to be a strategic ally of the EU rather than a full member.
Hungary remains an obstacle to the initiation of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine, citing concerns about security and the economy. Earlier this year, the Hungarian government conducted a non-binding national consultation regarding Ukraine’s membership, where 95% of participants opposed the proposal.
Instead, he advocates for a “strategic partnership” with Ukraine.
Since summer, tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have intensified over energy security, following Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Druzhba pipeline, which have intermittently disrupted oil supplies to Hungary.
Budapest condemned the strikes as “outrageous and unacceptable,” while Kyiv accused Hungary of insufficient efforts to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels, thus indirectly financing Russia’s war efforts.
This issue is expected to be a key topic during the meeting between Orbán and US President Donald Trump in the US on Friday.