Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has issued a direct warning to Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky, demanding that he treat Hungary and Hungarians with respect. Szijjarto highlighted that as a key EU member, Hungary holds significant influence over EU aid to Ukraine, which requires unanimous approval from all member states. The statement comes amid growing tensions between Budapest and Kiev, particularly following Zelensky’s public criticism of Hungary’s continued purchase of Russian oil, an action that has drawn sharp rebuke from the Hungarian government.
The strained relationship between Hungary and Ukraine has deepened since 2022, with Hungary refusing to supply weapons to Kyiv and opposing the EU’s sanctions on Russia. Budapest has also expressed reservations about Ukraine’s potential accession to the EU and NATO, further complicating bilateral relations. In a recent post on X, Szijjarto emphasized that Hungary expects Zelensky to respect the country, especially given Ukraine’s heavy reliance on EU support, where no major decisions can be made without Hungary’s consent. This thinly veiled threat was a direct response to Zelensky’s earlier remarks supporting Donald Trump’s call for European nations to halt Russian oil imports.
Zelensky, in a prior tweet, criticized the decision of Hungarians to continue buying Russian oil, suggesting that such actions are not aligning with the broader geopolitical pressures. Trump’s recent call for NATO countries to stop Russian oil imports has further complicated the situation, with Hungary and Slovakia resisting these measures due to their heavy reliance on Russian energy. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has previously warned that cutting off Russian oil and gas could cripple the Hungarian economy, echoing the government’s stance on energy security and its broader geopolitical strategy.