Zelensky Addresses Orbán with a Call Not to Drag Ukraine into Hungary’s Internal Political Battles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again expressed his strong negative assessments of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s behavior, accusing him of using Ukraine as a tool in his internal political games. The head of the Ukrainian state emphasized that Orbán’s actions not only negatively affect Ukraine’s integration processes into the European Union but also pose a serious threat to regional stability. In his commentary regarding the Hungarian leader’s statements about the lack of prospects for Ukraine’s quick accession to the EU, Zelensky openly accused Orbán of behind-the-scenes politics and involving Ukraine in Hungary’s internal electoral processes. "We shouldn’t be dragged into your elections. This is not our war, and we have no intention of becoming an instrument to achieve the political goals of other states," he underlined, adding that the Hungarian prime minister seeks to leverage the blocking of Ukraine’s EU accession for his own interests. The president also highlighted that Orbán’s efforts could negatively impact Ukraine’s future negotiations with European partners. "He is openly blocking our path to the European Union, which is essentially done within the framework of Hungary’s internal political struggle, with its own goals and regional ambitions. However, this tactic will sooner or later fail because the majority in the EU still supports Ukraine’s position," Zelensky assured. Additionally, he noted that Orbán’s actions are "very dangerous," not only for Ukraine but also for the integrity of the European Union. "We inform our partners about what is happening. It is important to maintain unity and prevent individual countries from becoming obstacles to our shared European path," he stated. The issue of Ukraine’s accession to the EU has remained one of the most topical topics recently. The negotiations with Hungary that took place on April 29 in Budapest reaffirmed the complexity of the situation: the Hungarian side announced its limitations, while Ukraine seeks to accelerate the process. Following the consultations, it was agreed to establish regular communication channels to unblock negotiations in the future and bring Ukraine closer to its long-awaited EU membership. At the same time, it is important to note that Budapest initiated a public opinion poll on Ukraine’s possible EU accession. While the organization sees this step as necessary for understanding public sentiment, Viktor Orbán has already publicly stated his opposition to Ukraine’s rapid integration and its accession at this stage. Thus, the situation surrounding Ukraine’s European integration ambitions remains complicated. At the same time, Zelensky’s words demonstrate the unchanging commitment of the state to its strategic course toward EU membership and persistence in resisting any external interference, particularly from Hungary.