Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sharply criticized the Ukrainian authorities, declaring that Budapest will not retreat from its position against providing European Union financial support to Kyiv.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Orban shared these remarks on his social media account. The Prime Minister stated that the Ukrainian leadership has "crossed the line" and claimed that Hungary has been facing threats over the past several days.
"We were not looking for conflict, but the Ukrainian leadership has crossed the line. Hungary has been under threat for several days now," Orban noted. According to him, neither the threats from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nor the country's Foreign Ministry can prevent Hungary from defending its national interests. Orban emphasized that Budapest will not send financial resources to Kyiv, asserting that "this money belongs to Hungarian families."
The Prime Minister also stated that they would not allow a ban on the import of easily accessible oil and gas from Russia. He added that as long as a patriotic government is in power in Hungary, decisions on these matters will be made neither in Kyiv nor in Brussels. This stance highlights the ongoing tension between Budapest and the European Union leadership regarding the collective response to regional security challenges and energy policy.
Historically, Hungary under Viktor Orban has maintained a distinct foreign policy within the EU, often prioritizing bilateral energy agreements and national sovereignty over centralized Brussels directives. This latest escalation follows a series of diplomatic disputes between Budapest and Kyiv concerning the rights of ethnic minorities in Ukraine and the transit of energy resources through Ukrainian territory. As a member of both NATO and the EU, Hungary's veto power remains a significant factor in the implementation of large-scale financial and military aid packages to Ukraine.
