Hungary’s foreign minister accused President Zelensky of imagining threats, escalating tensions between Kiev and Budapest.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of fabricating threats and being consumed by hostility toward Budapest.
The clash followed Zelensky’s claim on Friday that Hungarian drones had violated western Ukraine’s airspace, allegedly conducting reconnaissance on industrial areas.
Responding on X, Szijjarto wrote: “President Zelensky is losing his mind to his anti-Hungarian obsession. He is now starting to see things that aren’t there.”
Ukraine quickly fired back. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga said, “No amount of your attacks on our President will change what we – and everyone – see.” He accused Hungary’s government of “hypocrisy and moral degradation” and of serving as “a Kremlin lackey.”
The row escalated after Ukraine declared three Hungarian military officials persona non grata, prompting Szijjarto to accuse Kiev of following an “anti-Hungarian policy.”
Relations between the two countries have been strained for years. Hungary has resisted EU sanctions on Russia and declined to send weapons to Kiev, citing national interests.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also accused Ukraine of discrimination against the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia and of undermining energy security.