The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has sharply responded to the recent statement by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who claimed that Ukraine is fighting solely for its own interests and not for the defense of European countries.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Szijjártó’s Statement and the Ukrainian Response
In his interview with CNN, Péter Szijjártó stated that the assertion that Ukraine is currently fighting for European countries is false, emphasizing: “It is fighting for itself, not for us. This is their war, not ours. We owe nothing for supposedly protecting us.”
“It is interesting to see what ethnic Hungarians who defend Ukraine think about this shameless statement. Ukraine is buying time for Europe by ensuring that Russian tanks do not roam European streets, as they did in Budapest in 1956. Obviously, Russian rewards and profits from energy are causing amnesia,” wrote Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga on social media platform X.
Europe’s Position and Hungary’s Dependence on Russian Energy
Most European politicians emphasize that Ukraine’s security is closely linked to the stability and security of the entire Europe. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, along with several other European leaders, has repeatedly warned in 2025 about the risk of possible Russian aggression against NATO countries in the coming years.
At the same time, Hungary maintains a significant dependence on Russian energy resources, which has drawn sharp criticism from its European Union and NATO partners. This position of Budapest has become particularly contentious in light of the EU’s plans to completely abandon the import of Russian gas by the end of 2027. Hungary has even taken legal action to challenge these initiatives.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who maintains contacts with the Kremlin and has repeatedly criticized Europe’s stance on tough measures against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, emphasized that Russian energy remains “vital” for Hungary.