PM Orbán says Zelensky’s threat targets Hungary, not him personally

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has responded to remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying the comments were not directed at him personally but at Hungary as a country.

Orbán says the Ukrainian president’s threat is not aimed at him, but at the whole country

The exchange follows rising tensions between the two leaders over energy supplies and European Union financial support for Ukraine. Orbán stated that Hungary would “break the oil blockade” affecting the country, insisting that no threats would deter him from defending Hungarian interests, writes HVG.

The dispute intensified after Zelensky suggested that he hoped no one would block a new EU loan for Ukraine, adding that otherwise he could provide the address of those responsible to the Ukrainian army so they could “have a conversation”. The comment was widely interpreted in Hungary as referring to the Hungarian prime minister.

Orbán later clarified that the measures he mentioned earlier would not involve military force. According to the prime minister, Hungary remains on the side of peace and would rely on financial and diplomatic tools to resolve the issue.

Oil pipeline shutdown behind growing tensions

The conflict between Budapest and Kyiv has been building since the shutdown of the Druzhba oil pipeline in late January, which disrupted crude deliveries to Hungary. In response, Hungarian energy company MOL Group requested the release of strategic oil reserves in mid-February.

Hungary has also warned that it could block a proposed €90 billion EU loan package for Ukraine if oil deliveries are not restored. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó described Zelensky’s remarks as going “beyond all limits”, arguing that threatening the leader of an EU and NATO member state is unacceptable.