Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have deteriorated in recent months as Hungary persists in blocking Ukraine’s EU accession while preserving energy ties with Moscow despite the Kremlin’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
Orbán argued that Kyiv has already “lost one-fifth of its territory” to Russia and that its survival depends entirely on Western aid. “That is where sovereignty ended, and we support the remaining territory,” he said, adding that Hungary and Ukraine “may disagree, but we are not enemies.”
Ordering an investigation into the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday claimed “likely Hungarian” drones had crossed the border to conduct reconnaissance of industrial sites.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó swiftly rejected the allegations, accusing Zelenskyy of “losing his mind to his anti-Hungarian obsession.”
Orbán on Monday further downplayed the security concerns, insisting Ukraine should “be dealing with the drones on its eastern border” where the ground war with Russia is being fought.
“No one is going to attack it from here,” he said. “Two, three, or four Hungarian drones, whether they crossed the border or not, is not the issue the Ukrainians should be concerned with.”