Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has launched a sharp rebuke at Hungary, accusing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government of “shifting blame” for the ongoing war onto Kyiv instead of confronting Moscow’s aggression.
The exchange marks the latest flare-up in already strained relations between the two neighbours, who remain divided over energy supplies, minority rights and Budapest’s long-standing ties with Russia.
Hungary on Wednesday announced sanctions on a Ukrainian commander, who is of Hungarian descent, over allegations that his actions disrupted the flow of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
The supply route, which runs through Ukraine into central Europe, is a critical artery for Hungary’s energy security.
Zelenskyy hit back within hours, pointing to Hungary’s silence over an overnight Russian missile barrage that killed at least 18 people in Kyiv and left dozens injured.
Local officials said it was one of the deadliest attacks on the capital in months, with residential areas, medical facilities and energy infrastructure among the targets.
“While our citizens are still grappling with the aftermath of one of Russia’s deadliest attacks, Hungarian officials are once again trying to distort the truth and place the responsibility for the war on Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on social media.
He emphasised that Hungary had yet to denounce Russia’s attack or offer condolences to those affected. “Regrettably, Hungary has not responded appropriately to Russia’s actions, nor have they shown any sympathy for the loss of our citizens,” Zelenskyy added.
The Ukrainian president added that he had directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv to compile all available facts surrounding the issue and issue a formal diplomatic response to Budapest.
Hungary has positioned itself as one of the European Union’s most Russia-friendly governments, frequently blocking or watering down collective EU sanctions packages. Prime Minister Orbán has argued that severing energy ties with Moscow would harm Hungary’s economy, which remains heavily reliant on Russian oil and gas imports.
At the same time, Hungary has resisted moves to provide large-scale military aid to Ukraine, insisting instead on a negotiated settlement to end the war.
Orbán has repeatedly said that Western military support only prolongs the conflict, remarks that have infuriated Kyiv.
Ethnic tensions complicate the latest row. Hungary has long complained about the treatment of the roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine’s western Zakarpattia region, many of whom have resisted conscription.
Kyiv, meanwhile, accuses Budapest of exploiting minority rights issues to obstruct closer integration with the EU and NATO.
Diplomatic observers say the dispute over the Druzhba pipeline may further erode already minimal trust between the two countries. “What we are seeing is not just an argument about oil supply but a symptom of the deeper political divergence between Budapest and Kyiv,” said one European analyst. “Zelenskyy wants solidarity in the face of Russian aggression, while Orbán is prioritising domestic energy security and his own political narrative.”
The EU has not yet formally commented on the specific sanctions announced by Hungary, but Brussels has repeatedly urged member states to avoid unilateral measures that risk undermining a common stance on Ukraine.
For Zelenskyy, the confrontation comes at a moment of heightened vulnerability, with Ukrainian forces struggling to repel renewed Russian offensives and Kyiv calling urgently for more Western air defence systems.
The president has framed Hungary’s position as not only a betrayal of European unity but also an affront to the victims of ongoing Russian bombardments.
As the war drags into its third year, the dispute highlights how fault lines within Europe are widening — with some governments pushing for tougher action against Moscow, while others, like Hungary, maintain cautious distance in the name of national interest.
