Viktor Orbán has responded strongly to criticism from the Ukrainian head of state, Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed his views regarding Budapest’s policy in the context of Ukraine’s accession prospects to the European Union
In his statement published on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Hungarian Prime Minister explicitly emphasized that decisions regarding cooperation with the EU and Ukraine’s European integration are not made in Kyiv or Brussels but must take into account the position of the entire Hungarian people. Events suddenly unfolded after May 3, when Ukrainian President Zelensky, in a comment for Ukrainian journalists, accused Orbán of “very dangerous actions,” particularly of blocking Ukraine’s EU integration process. Zelensky hinted that Hungary’s policy, including its veto on the accession of Ukrainian candidates to the European Community, is driven by internal political motives — allegedly, the Hungarian Prime Minister seeks to use this situation to strengthen his political position in Ukraine and ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2026. In response, Viktor Orbán openly stated that even before the start of future negotiations and regarding Hungary’s stance on Ukraine’s accession, it is important to understand: “What the Ukrainian people think is not decided by the president in Kyiv or bureaucrats in Brussels.” He emphasized that Hungary advocates for adherence to the principle of democratic participation: “Without Hungary, there will be no successful accession of Ukraine to the EU. Every Hungarian citizen has the right to express their opinion on this matter. Whether you like it or not — this is how we do it here.” Orbán also pointed out that all decisions will be made considering the interests of the Hungarian people and their position on the integration process. Previously, the Ukrainian government and the European Commission had ambitious plans to accelerate Ukraine’s accession negotiations with the EU as early as 2025. However, these plans have been undermined by Budapest’s veto, which casts doubt on any progress in this area. At the same time, Hungary organized an advisory survey among its citizens to gauge attitudes toward speeding up Ukraine’s EU accession. Viktor Orbán has already publicly opposed this step, emphasizing that every Hungarian has the right to voice their opinion on the future of the European integration process. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also added that Ukraine must understand: “Dealing with this issue, Ukraine’s leadership needs to accept that all Hungarians have the right to a voice in decision-making regarding their future.” Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Hungary’s veto and internal political games continue to complicate Ukraine’s pathway to European integration, which some experts see as a manifestation of internal divisions and new geopolitical challenges in the region.