Polish FM says Orbán ‘earned the Lenin Order’, Hungarian FM Szijjártó fires back on social media
A sharp war of words has erupted online between the foreign ministers of Poland and Hungary after a controversial statement by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the fate of frozen Russian assets.
The latest diplomatic spat began when Orbán warned that any move by the European Union to seize frozen Russian funds would amount to a “declaration of war”. The Hungarian prime minister shared his views on X, repeating an argument he has made previously in interviews, in which he portrayed Brussels’ potential actions as an escalation with serious geopolitical consequences.
❌ Bypassing Hungary and raping European law in broad daylight, the Brusselians are making moves to seize frozen Russian assets – a declaration of war. Meanwhile, they demand €135 billion more from member states to fuel the conflict. Hungary will not play along in this twisted… pic.twitter.com/u1voxmoD32
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 13, 2025
Orbán’s post quickly drew a biting response from Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who shared the message with a sarcastic comment: “Viktor has earned the Order of Lenin.”
Viktor has earned his Order of Lenin. https://t.co/dA2eSm1OEq
— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) December 14, 2025
The Order of Lenin was the highest civilian and military decoration in the former Soviet Union and was awarded to both Soviet and foreign citizens. In Hungary, the reference carries particular historical weight, as communist-era leader János Kádár was among those who received it.
Szijjártó accuses Poland of being ‘pro-war’
Sikorski’s remark did not go unanswered. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó swiftly hit back in a post of his own, accusing Poland of pushing Europe towards conflict with Russia.
“We understand you really want a Russia vs. Europe war! We will let ourselves be dragged into your war,” Szijjártó wrote, echoing the Hungarian government’s long-standing narrative that it represents a “peace camp” within the EU.
We understand you really want a Russia vs. Europe war! We will not let ourselves be dragged into your war!! https://t.co/UXqBu74WSd
— Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) December 14, 2025
The exchange escalated further when Sikorski replied in the comments section, rejecting the accusation and turning it back on Budapest. “Unless Russia invades again, there won’t be such a war,” the Polish foreign minister wrote, adding pointedly: “But we understand that this time you would be on the Russians’ side.”
Unless Russia invades again there won’t be such a war but we understand that this time you would be on her side.
— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) December 14, 2025
Not the first clash between Sikorski and Szijjártó
The heated online confrontation is only the latest episode in a series of public clashes between the two ministers, who have a long history of mutual criticism.
Sikorski has previously taken aim at Szijjártó over his diplomatic engagements, including a widely circulated photo showing the Hungarian foreign minister attending a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Commenting on the image at the time, Sikorski wrote: “It seems you’re playing on the other team, Péter.”
Tensions have also flared over energy security and the war in Ukraine. The two ministers exchanged sharp words following an attack on the Druzhba (Friendship) oil pipeline, with Hungary accusing Ukraine of endangering energy supplies and Poland taking a far more confrontational stance towards Moscow.
On earlier occasions, Szijjártó has labelled Sikorski “one of Europe’s most extreme pro-war politicians”, while the Polish foreign minister has repeatedly criticised what he sees as Hungary’s ambiguous positioning between East and West.
Polish–Hungarian relations at a low point
The public sparring reflects the deterioration in relations between Warsaw and Budapest, particularly since Donald Tusk returned to power in Poland. While ties had already begun to cool due to differing approaches to Russia, the change of government in Warsaw has pushed the relationship to what several observers describe as a historic low, according to Index.
Under Tusk’s leadership, Poland has adopted a strongly pro-Ukraine and openly anti-Kremlin line, in stark contrast to Hungary’s more cautious and often Russia-friendly rhetoric. This divergence has increasingly played out in public, especially on social media platforms such as X.
Sikorski has frequently commented on Hungarian politics and on Orbán personally, at one point urging the prime minister to “finally decide whether he wants to belong to the East or the West”.
🤣🤣🤣 i don’t understand why Hungarian government get upset. Polish are saying facts. The Hungarians wants so desperately to join russia. Its kind of Stockholm syndrome after what happened in 1956
Hungary is a Russian Trojan Horse inside the EU. Of course it must be by-passed or else Putin controls the EU through Orban. Hungary collects the benefits of being inside the EU but causes harm to the EU on a constant basis making it by definition a parasite.