In a recent interview, President Zelensky launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Orbán. His words were blunt:
“The only thing he hasn’t done is attack our territory with missiles or drones. And he hasn’t sent soldiers,” President Zelensky said.
“But he vetoes money and weapons for Ukraine and opposes Ukraine’s EU membership. And he uses the same narratives as the Russians. Personally, that’s what he does.”
The statement itself exposes the contradiction. Hungary has not attacked Ukraine, has not sent troops, and has not fired missiles — yet President Zelensky portrays Prime Minister Orbán as an adversary simply because Hungary refuses to support additional weapons deliveries, financial aid packages, or fast-track EU membership for Ukraine.
The rhetoric escalated further in recent days. A former officer of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) issued threats targeting the family of Prime Minister Orbán, an unprecedented development in the diplomatic dispute between the two countries. Threatening the family of an EU prime minister marks a dangerous new level in the confrontation.
Another controversy erupted around the Hungarian fact-finding delegation that traveled to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities attempted to deny the official status of the Hungarian delegation, presenting the visit as unofficial despite its clear governmental mandate.
At the same time, the deeper reason behind the growing dispute has become increasingly clear. Ukraine has politically blocked the Druzhba oil pipeline, a critical energy route for Hungary, and, most recently, attacked the TurkStream pipeline in Russia as well. By restricting oil deliveries, Kyiv is directly threatening Hungary’s energy security and attempting to create economic and energy instability.
The goal of this pressure is transparent: Destabilize Hungary’s economy and political environment ahead of the April 12 elections, hoping that Kyiv’s loyal political ally in Hungary, opposition leader Péter Magyar, will benefit from the resulting chaos.
Despite these escalating tensions, Brussels continues to celebrate President Zelensky. The European Parliament is preparing to honor him even as his rhetoric toward Hungary grows increasingly aggressive.
The situation highlights a remarkable double standard. A Ukrainian president who publicly accuses Prime Minister Orbán, who repeats political attacks against Hungary, whose political environment produces threats against the prime minister’s family, and who is willing to weaponize energy infrastructure against an EU member state remains a favored partner of the European political establishment. Meanwhile, the government of Hungary, an actual member of the EU, faces continued fines and political warfare for protecting EU borders and striving for peace.
Behind the war rhetoric lies another uncomfortable reality that rarely surfaces in Brussels debates: the enormous financial flows generated by the conflict. The wartime network of interests surrounding Ukraine — including the infamous “Golden Convoy,” the money trail of the Ukrainian war mafia — is a reminder that the war economy has created powerful actors who benefit from prolonging the conflict.
While Hungary calls for stability, sovereignty and peace, Brussels continues to embrace President Zelensky without hesitation.
The reality is sad but simple: A chronically dishonest, aggressive and openly threatening Ukrainian president remains Brussels’ best friend.