Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
He claims that Ukraine is only functioning thanks to Western support.
He claims that Ukraine is only functioning thanks to Western support.
What is happening?
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sparked fresh controversy by declaring that Ukraine is not a sovereign state.
Downplaying drone incursions
His comments came during a podcast interview on Monday, where he dismissed Ukrainian concerns over alleged drone incursions into their airspace.
Orban downplayed the situation, suggesting any drone movement would be inconsequential and blamed the West for propping up Ukraine’s government.
Blaming the West for Ukraine’s survival
Orban claimed that Ukraine is only functioning thanks to Western support.
“Ukraine is financed by us, the West gives it funds, weapons,” he said.
This framing aligns with Orban’s long-standing skepticism of Western military aid to Kyiv and reflects his growing distance from NATO and EU consensus on the war.
Kyiv responds: “Intoxicated by Russian propaganda”
Ukrainian officials quickly hit back. Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, condemned Orban’s remarks on X (formerly Twitter), saying the Hungarian leader remained “intoxicated by Russian propaganda.”
Drone dispute fuels the fire
The latest diplomatic row was triggered by accusations from Ukraine that Hungarian reconnaissance drones had violated its airspace.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested the drones may have been scouting industrial sites near the western border.
Hungary’s firm denial
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto rejected Ukraine’s claims outright.
He accused Zelenskiy of “losing his mind” over the drone issue.
Orban’s unique stance in Europe
Unlike most NATO and EU leaders, Viktor Orban has maintained friendly ties with Moscow.
He has consistently questioned the effectiveness of Western military support for Ukraine and often uses nationalist rhetoric to challenge mainstream European policies on the war.
Close ties to Putin
Orban is also the closest to an ally of Putin in Europe, as you can get.
Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian oil, causing Orban to state that ungary will keep Russian oil, even though the EU is working on phasing it out.
Censorship battle over online news
In a tit-for-tat move, Hungary announced it was blocking access to 12 Ukrainian news sites.
The decision came after Ukraine earlier blocked several Hungarian-language websites, citing concerns over pro-Russian content.
Among them was origo.hu, a major Hungarian pro-government outlet.
Ukraine’s cyber clampdown
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s security services requested the ban of several websites believed to be spreading pro-Russian narratives.
The blocked sites included eight Hungarian-language portals, intensifying the media war between the neighboring countries.
Escalating tensions
The escalating dispute between Ukraine and Hungary reveals deeper fractures within the European alliance.
While both are geographically close and part of key Western institutions, their positions on the war in Ukraine are increasingly at odds, threatening broader regional unity.
What’s next?
With relations between the two nations at a low point, and neither side backing down, the diplomatic chill shows no signs of thawing.
Whether through rhetoric, drones, or media restrictions, Hungary and Ukraine appear locked in an intensifying political standoff.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
