President Zelensky outraged at PM Orbán, warns of dangerous actions – Responses from FM Szijjártó and Tisza

President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed outrage at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of doing “very dangerous things” and attempting to obstruct Ukraine’s path to European Union accession. At the same time, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine had no right to interfere in Hungary’s internal affairs. However, he stressed that the Hungarian people support Ukraine’s EU membership and that Orbán has no right to hinder that process. Zelensky also accused Orbán of dragging Ukraine into Hungary’s domestic political struggles. 

Zelensky angered by Orbán’s claim that Ukraine’s accession to the EU is “impossible”

According to Ukrainska Pravda, Zelensky made these remarks during an off-the-record conversation with journalists.

“Just don’t drag us into your elections. He [Orbán – Ukrainska Pravda editorial staff] is actually doing it by blocking our accession to the EU. In the end, this strategy will not succeed. Why? Because people there are still supporting Ukraine,” Zelensky said.

He referred to polling data showing 70% support—likely citing a survey by Péter Magyar’s team, which showed 58% support for Ukraine’s EU accession. However, Tisza’s question was not specifically about fast-tracking the process.

Orbán has frequently reiterated his support for Ukraine’s EU membership in the long term. However, he firmly opposes fast-tracking the process, especially the proposed 2030 target, which he argues would damage Hungary’s—and the EU’s—economy. The use of the word “impossible” in that context drew a sharp response from Zelensky.

In the same off-the-record discussion, Zelensky claimed that Orbán had taken dangerous actions and that Ukraine had informed its partners about them.

“He may be against it, but he has no right to take steps to block our accession [to the EU], because that is the decision of another sovereign state—just as we have no right to interfere in Hungary’s affairs,” the Ukrainian president said.