‘You Don’t Need to Tell the President What to Do’ – Ukraine Fires Back As Hungary Slams Zelensky Over Druzhba Strikes

Ukraine and Hungary traded sharp words Monday after Budapest accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of threatening its energy security by linking attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline to Hungary’s refusal to support Kyiv’s bid to join the European Union.

At a press conference in Kyiv on Aug. 24, Zelensky hinted – with a touch of irony – that recent strikes on the pipeline may have been tied to Hungary’s stance on Ukraine’s EU accession.

“We have always maintained friendship [Druzhba in Ukrainian and Russian – ed.]. Now the existence of the Druzhba [pipeline – ed.] depends on Hungary.”

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó swiftly slammed the remarks, accusing Ukraine in a Facebook post of launching attacks “against the security of Hungary’s energy supply” and warning that the attacks could be interpreted as “attacks against sovereignty.”

“An illegitimate explanation for the violation of our sovereignty is a war we have nothing to do with,” Szijjártó wrote, calling on Zelensky to “stop threatening Hungary” and “stop risking” the country’s energy security.”

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andriy Sybiha, fired back on social media, insisting that Budapest has no right to dictate Kyiv’s actions.

“You don’t need to tell the Ukrainian President what to do or say, and when,” Sybiha posted on X. “He is the President of Ukraine, not Hungary. Hungary’s energy security is in your own hands. Diversify and become independent from Russia, like the rest of Europe.”

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Russian Guided Bomb Strike Kills Three in Zaporizhzhia

Russian forces escalated their bombardment of civilian targets on Sunday, executing a fatal guided aerial bomb strike in the Zaporizhzhia region and a multi-province drone campaign. Russian bombs struck the settlement of Balabyne, killing three people and wounding three others after directly hitting a public transit stop. Separately, the Odesa Regional Military Administration reported a massive overnight drone wave that damaged residential homes, non-residential buildings, and vehicles, wounding a 41-year-old man.

Since early August, Ukrainian drones have struck the Druzhba pipeline several times –on Aug. 13 and Aug. 21 – disrupting deliveries of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

Both countries lodged complaints with the European Commission, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote to US President Donald Trump about the attacks. Hungarian media reported that Trump responded, saying he was “angry” over the situation.

The Druzhba pipeline, one of the world’s longest, has become a flashpoint in the wider energy war between Kyiv and Moscow. While Ukraine argues that Russian oil flowing through its territory finances the Kremlin’s invasion, EU members reliant on the pipeline – particularly Hungary and Slovakia – say the strikes threaten their economic stability.

Hungary’s government, led by Orbán, has often clashed with EU partners over its close ties to Moscow. Budapest has repeatedly blocked or delayed sanctions on Russia, resisted military aid to Ukraine, and opposed EU efforts to phase out Russian energy.