Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó made a resonant statement regarding the so-called “von der Leyen-Zelensky plan,” which, in his opinion, could cause significant harm not only to the economies of Hungary and Slovakia but also to the entire economic landscape of the Central European region
According to the high-ranking official, this plan allegedly involves destroying the economic foundations of Central European countries and creating substantial difficulties for the European economy as a whole. Moreover, in his speech, he did not hide his sharp attitude towards European leadership concerning the sanctions policy against Russia and measures to ban the use of Russian energy resources. According to sources from "European Pravda," including the MTI publication, the broadcast featuring Szijjártó was dedicated to discussing the upcoming European Union sanctions package against Moscow, as well as measures to restrict the import of Russian energy, which raises considerable concern within the Hungarian government. During his address, the minister claimed that EU leadership seeks to force the Hungarian people to pay the price for their support of Ukraine in this war and expressed gratitude on behalf of Slovakia, which publicly reaffirmed its position of support for Budapest. "The von der Leyen-Zelensky plan jeopardizes the energy security not only of Hungary but of all Slovakia. These measures pose extremely serious challenges and threats to the stability of the energy sector in our region," he stated. In his speech, Szijjártó did not limit himself to criticizing EU policies. He also accused European leaders of "brutally violating" agreements and commitments and promised to conduct a "rigorous fight" for Hungary’s interests. According to the minister, Budapest will never allow consumers to pay higher prices for energy resources and assured that the country will take all necessary measures to protect its citizens from economic shocks. Szijjártó’s statement fits into the broader context of the official rhetoric of the Hungarian authorities regarding Ukraine, which expresses skepticism toward Kyiv’s foreign policy moves and accuses the Ukrainian side of ingratitude and hypocrisy. This occurred on the eve of a scandal involving the expulsion of Ukrainian spies from Hungary, which has increased tensions between the two countries. "European Pravda" has already analyzed the situation in a article titled "Orban Aims for War with Ukraine: What Threats Does This Strategy Bring, and How Should Ukrainian Officials Respond." It discusses the potential consequences of Hungary’s so-called "anti-Ukrainian course" and offers recommendations on how Kyiv can effectively oppose Budapest’s policies during this difficult time. At the same time, experts warn that such political statements and open confrontation could lead to dangerous scenarios for regional stability and require careful diplomatic responses from the Ukrainian government and the international community.