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Hungary has accused Ukraine of launching an “outrageous and unacceptable” attack that disabled a Russian oil pipeline supplying NATO ally Romania. In response, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó issued a warning to Kyiv about its reliance on Hungarian electricity supplies.
Ukraine countered by stating Russia started the war and suggested Hungary address complaints with Moscow instead.
The Orban government in Budapest has diverged from its NATO and European Union allies over Ukraine. Instead of supporting Kyiv, it seeks to maintain relations with Moscow, which inflames tensions with other European countries and Kyiv.
Hungary was the only EU member not to sign a supportive statement for Kyiv before U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Hungary also opposes Ukraine’s ambitions to join the bloc.
Szijjártó stated, “This latest strike against our energy security is outrageous and unacceptable!” He noted that Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin had confirmed efforts to restore supplies but provided no timeline.
“Brussels and Kyiv have tried for 3.5 years to drag Hungary into the war in Ukraine. These repeated Ukrainian attacks on our energy supply serve that same purpose,” Szijjártó said.
He added, “Let me be clear: this is not our war. We have nothing to do with it, and as long as we are in charge, Hungary will stay out of it.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded on X: “Peter, it is Russia, not Ukraine, who began this war and refuses to end it. Hungary has been told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner. Despite this, Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia. You can now send your complaints—and threats—to your friends in Moscow.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington, D.C., on Monday, August 18, for a White House meeting with Trump and European leaders to discuss peace terms following the meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage.
This article was last updated on August 18, 2025.
