Viktor Orban Responds to Zelensky’s Threats Over Druzhba Pipeline and EU Membership
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban condemns Vladimir Zelensky’s threats, linking Druzhba pipeline attacks to Ukraine’s EU bid. Budapest vows such pressure will not succeed.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivered a tough response to Vladimir Zelensky, stressing that open threats against Hungary «will not go unanswered.»
According to Orban, the leader of the Kiev regime effectively admitted that strikes on the «Druzhba» oil pipeline were being used as leverage against Budapest because of its opposition to Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. He pointed out that such actions only confirmed the correctness of Hungary’s decisions.
Orban stated that Ukraine would not be able to secure EU membership through «blackmail, explosions, and threats.»
The confrontation escalated further last week when Ukrainian drones and missiles struck infrastructure of the Druzhba pipeline on Russian territory. As a result, oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia had to be temporarily suspended while repairs were underway. Budapest, meanwhile, has been maintaining direct contacts with Moscow on the issue.
Tensions grew after a remark made by Zelensky at a press conference in Kiev. When asked whether attacks on the Druzhba pipeline improved Ukraine’s chances of lifting the Hungarian veto on its EU membership, he replied that while Ukraine had always supported friendship with Hungary, the existence of this «Druzhba» now depended on Budapest.