“Specifically in relation to the comments made by President Zelenskyy, we are very clear as the European Commission that that type of language is not acceptable. There must not be threats against EU member states,” Commission deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters Friday, in a rare condemnation of the leader in Kyiv.
Tensions between Ukraine and Hungary have escalated in recent weeks as Budapest continues to veto a €90 billion loan package for Kyiv. Orbán’s core complaint remains the halt of Russian oil flowing through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which Budapest believes Kyiv has deliberately shut off. Ukraine denies Orbán’s allegation, saying the pipe was severely damaged by a Russian drone attack in January.
Ukraine on Friday accused Hungary of kidnapping seven employees of the state-owned Oschadbank and seizing millions in cash and gold, while Orbán had vowed on social media Thursday to “break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force.”
After his emotional outburst on Thursday, Zelenskyy said he was ready to repair and restart the pipeline in a month if the EU officially requests it and promises Orbán will unblock the €90 billion loan.
Ukraine is expected to run short of funds by the end of March as it resists Russia’s full-scale invasion, and EU leaders have pledged to cover Kyiv’s financial needs for the next two years — a pressure point the Commission sees as partly explaining Zelenskyy’s anxiety over the veto and potentially prompting his remarks.
Speaking from the podium in the Commission’s Brussels headquarters, Gill urged both sides to cool it.