Speaking to journalists on Saturday, May 3rd, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, claiming he is doing “very dangerous things” when he stands in the way of Ukrainian EU accession.
Zelensky believes that Orbán’s actions are informed by domestic considerations, and he is thus “dragging” Kyiv into the political struggle amid the upcoming 2026 elections in Hungary.
Zelensky also stated that the majority of Hungarians support Ukraine’s EU accession, citing a public consultation initiated by Hungarian opposition politician Péter Magyar that found that almost 60% of those who filled out the questionnaire were in favour of Ukraine being admitted to the Union.
The opposition survey emulated the nationwide consultation that the government of Hungary launched at the end of March on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. The consultation will conclude on June 20th.
Budapest’s concerns regarding the integration of Ukraine are only party of economic nature. An important aspect of the troubled Hungarian-Ukrainian relationship is the stituation of the ethnic Hungarian community in Transcarpathia.
Orbán responded to Zelensky on social media, stressing that
What the Hungarian people think is not decided by the president in Kyiv or the bureaucrats in Brussels. There is no Ukrainian EU accession without Hungary.
President @ZelenskyyUa addressed the Hungarian people yesterday.
Mr. President! What the Hungarian people think is not decided by the president in Kyiv or the bureaucrats in Brussels.
There is no Ukrainian EU accession without Hungary. Every Hungarian will have their say on…
