A public exchange of messages has triggered new diplomatic ripples between Budapest and Kyiv. After a former Ukrainian president addressed the Hungarian prime minister in a critical tone, Viktor Orbán responded on his social media page.
“Remember who you were” – how the dispute began
The dispute began with a public appeal. Viktor Yushchenko, a former president of Ukraine, urged Viktor Orbán to “stop and remember who you were”. According to many observers, the remark referred to the Hungarian prime minister’s earlier support for freedom movements and democratic aspirations in Eastern Europe.
The statement quickly attracted attention and did not go unanswered. Orbán responded in a longer post published on the social media platform X, where he addressed not only Yushchenko but also, indirectly, the Ukrainian leadership.
Orbán: Hungarians have always been freedom fighters
In his response, the prime minister placed his position within a historical context. He wrote that the Hungarian people have fought for their freedom throughout their thousand-year history and have faced numerous great powers.
As examples, he mentioned struggles against the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburgs, the Wehrmacht and the Red Army. According to Orbán, this tradition continues to shape Hungary’s political thinking today.
In the post, he also emphasised that Hungarians do not accept threats, and he asked Yushchenko to warn the Ukrainian president not to apply pressure against Hungary.
Rising tensions with the Ukrainian leadership
One of the strongest parts of Orbán’s message came when he issued an indirect warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Hungarian prime minister wrote that Ukraine should not attempt to blackmail Hungary or threaten its leaders.
In the post, Orbán also referred to the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which he described as “state terrorism”, stating that such methods would not work against Hungary.
Reply to the open letter of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko
Dear Viktor,
My old friend,We Hungarians have always been a nation of freedom fighters throughout our thousand-year history, and we will remain so. We are the nation that fought fearlessly for its freedom…
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) March 14, 2026
Refugees and minority rights
In his reply, Orbán also reminded readers that after the outbreak of the war Hungary received a large number of Ukrainian refugees. According to him, the country provided food, shelter and educational opportunities for those arriving, including the launch of Ukrainian-language schools.
At the same time, he voiced criticism regarding the situation of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine. The prime minister said that the rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia are now more restricted than before, calling the situation “shameful”, as reported by 24.hu.
“We want to remain friends, but we will not fight”
One of the key lines of the post came when Orbán stated that Hungary does not wish to participate in the war in Ukraine. He emphasised that the country would not send money, weapons or soldiers to the conflict, reported 24.hu.
At the same time, he added that Hungary would still like to maintain good relations with Ukraine and hopes that, in the future, the spirit of friendship between the two countries can return.
He concluded his message with an unusual personal note: if Yushchenko or his family were ever threatened by a foreign power, Hungary would always offer them a safe place, as the country is a secure refuge.
If you missed it:
Orban’s response did not directly address Yuschenko’s remark that Orban is not who he was when Hungary regained its’ freedom in 1990. It was all deflection because he can’t refute that truth. That is what Fidesz gives you night and day – deflection from the truth. Lies, corruption. Russian control.
I guess it bothers Viktor that Viktor is right. I met that same young, dashing Prime Minister too. Not in official capacity, of course, but when he was the hope of Hungary’s new generation coming of age just after the Russians had gone home leaving Hungary with the enormous task of rooting out the last vestiges of communism; and some communist “hangers on” as well. I admired him. I no longer do. Why?
Take a hard look at the record starting with dismantling the 1989 Hungarian Constitution in 2011, and move on to today where we are still living under a so-called “state of danger” and have been for the past 6 years. This is just the latest power grab to maintain control of government, taxes, money, elections and people. Yes, Viktor, you are quite right. Viktor should remember “who you were”. You should remember Viktor because you were the hope of Hungary. You are now the cleptocrat responsible for draining the very life blood out of Hungary and you are joined at the hip with the very tyrannical empire that “Young Viktor” helped to send home after its 40 plus years of brutal rule in Hungary. It is indeed a pitty that the “Young Viktor” is gone.
All anyone needs to do to understand what Orban is doing is to simply walk to Parliament and see what is no longer there – the 1956 memorial with the “eternal” flame of Russian gas and the statue of Nagy Imre. Orban wants everyone to forget what the Russians did to Hungarians. One of our family members was in Andrassy ut three times. They beat him so badly he suffered a stroke.
‘Orban wants everyone to forget what the Russians did to Hungarians.’
Does he want to forget it, Dear Larry, or does he simply realize that it is no longer 1945-1989?
Quick question: why is Poland – supported by the political left, right and center – investing so much of its GDP in defense? Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with its neighbor to the North? Decades under Soviet domination? Current bellicose “War!” orientation of Mr. Putin?
Applies to us, all the same.
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Russian did nothing to Hungary, it was Soviet Union which had a ukranian leader in 1956 , Kruschov, who sent ukranian tanks and soldiers to kill Hungarians. Your rusophobia can’t change documented facts!
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