Hungary’s Foreign Minister Fires Back at Ukraine 'Hatred' Claims

(MENAFN) Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has forcefully denied claims that Budapest harbors hostility toward Ukraine, instead accusing Kiev of pursuing antagonistic policies against Hungary for years. His remarks came during the EU Foreign Affairs Council, where Hungary threatened to derail the bloc’s latest sanctions package against Russia.

Confronted by reporters, Szijjarto pushed back sharply.

“We don’t hate Ukraine. The problem is that the Ukrainian state hates Hungary,” he said, charging that Kiev had undermined Hungary’s energy security by halting crude oil shipments through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline. The pipeline remains the primary supply route for Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, both landlocked and heavily reliant on it.

When pressed by another journalist who argued that Hungary’s Russian oil purchases amounted to “financing the war,” Szijjarto dismissed the allegation, noting the figure represents just 0.2% of Russia’s GDP.

Later in the day, Hungary followed through on its threat, vetoing the sanctions package. Szijjarto insisted Budapest would only reconsider once Ukraine resumes oil deliveries via Druzhba. Hungary has previously suspended diesel exports to Ukraine and warned it could cut off electricity and natural gas supplies.

The dispute intensified after oil flows stopped in late January. Ukraine attributed the disruption to a Russian airstrike, while Moscow accused Kiev of weaponizing energy to pressure Hungary and Slovakia—two governments critical of EU military support for Ukraine.

Tensions have spilled into personal attacks. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky recently mocked Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, even fat-shaming him during the Munich Security Conference. Orban fired back, saying Zelensky’s behavior proves why Ukraine “cannot become a member of the European Union.”

Orban has consistently opposed Ukraine’s EU accession bid, refused to send weapons, and blocked EU military aid, arguing instead for diplomacy over escalation.

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