Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán Viktor lashed out at Ukraine, accusing Kiev of election meddling. He added that Budapest will attempt to keep Kiev from joining the European Union (EU).
“The Ukrainians have gone on the offensive. They’re issuing threats and openly interfering in the Hungarian elections,” Orban wrote on X Saturday. “Their goal is to secure funds and force their way into the European Union as soon as possible.”
“As a member of the European Union, Hungary has the right to say no. Our patriotic government clearly says no.” He continued, “We do not want Hungarian families’ money to be sent to Ukraine, and we do not want Hungary to be dragged into a war. Alongside Brussels, we send a clear message to Kyiv as well: we will not pay!”
Hungary used its leverage in the EU and NATO to check Western support for Ukraine. Both bodies require unanimous consent of their members to act, effectively giving Budapest a veto. Hungary has slowed the pace of sanctions issued by the EU and helped shut down the bloc’s scheme to fund Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.
An additional friction point between Kiev and Budapest has been Ukrainian strikes on Russian pipelines that bring oil into Hungary. Ukrainian drone attacks have shut down the Friendship pipeline several times. Additionally, a Hungarian refinery was destroyed in a sabotage attack, and Ukraine was suspected of carrying out the operation.
In November, Ukrainian President Zelensky told reporters, “We will not allow the Russians to sell oil there [to Hungary]. It’s a matter of time. It’s a matter of our position.”
