Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has sharply criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, accusing him of harboring an “anti-Hungarian obsession” and fabricating threats. Szijjarto claimed that Zelenskiy is “losing his mind” over non-existent dangers posed by Hungary, stating, “He is now starting to see things that aren’t there.”
Zelenskiy had previously alleged that Hungarian drones violated western Ukrainian airspace, suggesting they might have been conducting reconnaissance on border areas. In response, Szijjarto dismissed these claims as baseless, emphasizing Hungary’s opposition to escalating tensions. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga retaliated, accusing Budapest of hypocrisy and aligning with Russia, while defending Zelenskiy’s stance.
The diplomatic clash follows Ukraine’s recent decision to declare three senior Hungarian military officials persona non grata, which Szijjarto blamed on Kiev’s “anti-Hungarian policy.” Hungary has long resisted Western pressure to supply weapons to Ukraine or support EU sanctions against Russia, citing concerns over national interests. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also accused Ukraine of targeting the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia and disrupting energy security by attacking the Druzhba pipeline.
Szijjarto reiterated Hungary’s call for peace negotiations to avoid further conflict, warning that prolonged hostilities risk escalating tensions with NATO. He emphasized that “peace is the only way to bring the risk [of escalation] down to zero.”
