War of Words Between Ukraine and Hungary

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief reporting from Budapest, Hungary

KIEV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Lingering tensions between Hungary and neighboring Ukraine escalated into a verbal war Monday, with Budapest accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of threatening its energy security after his forces attacked the Druzhba (”Friendship”) pipeline in Russia.

Further angering Budapest was Zelenskyy’s suggestion Sunday—with a touch of irony—“that recent strikes on the pipeline may have been tied to Hungary’s stance on Ukraine’s European Union accession.”

“We have always maintained ‘Friendship’ [Druzhba in Ukrainian and Russian]. Now the existence of the Druzhba [pipeline] depends on Hungary,” Zelenskyy stressed.

He spoke on Ukraine’s Independence Day, when people remember the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine adopted by the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) on August 24, 1991.

This act followed a failed coup attempt in Moscow and ended Ukraine’s status as part of the Soviet Union.

CONDEMNING REMARKS

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó swiftly slammed the remarks, accusing Ukraine in a Facebook post of launching attacks “against the security of Hungary’s energy supply” and warning that the attacks could be interpreted as “attacks against sovereignty.”

“An illegitimate explanation for the violation of our sovereignty is a war we have nothing to do with,” Szijjártó wrote, calling on Zelensky to “stop threatening Hungary” and “stop risking” the country’s energy security.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha fired back on social media, insisting that Budapest cannot dictate Kyiv’s actions.

“You don’t need to tell the Ukrainian President what to do or say, and when,” Sybiha posted on social media platform X. “He is the President of Ukraine, not Hungary. Hungary’s energy security is in your own hands,” Sybiha added: “Diversify and become independent from Russia, like the rest of Europe.”

Hungary has long been critical of the war in Ukraine. It has declined to support Kyiv militarily at a time when it is heavily dependent on Russian oil and natural gas.

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