Kiev’s fight against Russia allows the Hungarian prime minister to “grow his belly” instead of an army, the Ukrainian leader has said
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has launched yet another personal attack on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, telling him that thanks to Kiev, he can “think about how to grow his belly” instead of building a capable army. The two have long been at odds due to Budapest’s refusal to support Ukraine.
Zelensky made the remarks at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, arguing that Ukraine is defending the entire EU from Russia. “It’s Ukrainians who are holding the European front. Behind our people stands an independent Poland and the free Baltic states,” he claimed.
“And even one Viktor can think about how to grow his belly, not how to grow his army to stop Russian tanks from returning to the streets of Budapest,” he said, referring to the 1956 Soviet incursion into Hungary to suppress a popular revolt.
The insult elicited applause from a mostly pro-Ukraine and pro-EU crowd, which tends to have a dim view of Orban due to his opposition to numerous policies of the bloc.
Responding on X, Orban did not address the insult directly, but suggested that Zelensky’s remarks “will greatly help Hungarians see the situation more clearly,” particularly regarding Ukraine’s ambitions to join the EU.
“This debate is not about me and it is not about you. It is about the future of Hungary, Ukraine, and Europe. This is precisely why you cannot become a member of the European Union,” he said.
Last month, Zelensky took another jab at Orban, telling the World Economic Forum in Davos that “every Viktor who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head.”
The Hungarian prime minister called Zelensky “a man in a desperate position,” while hinting that the Ukrainian leader has shown ingratitude. “The Ukrainian people, of course – despite your carefully chosen insults – can still count on us to continue supplying your country with electricity and fuel.”
Orban has declined to support Ukraine’s military effort, arguing that the aid would only impede peace settlement. Hungary has also opposed Kiev’s push to join the EU and NATO, arguing the move would draw the bloc into a direct conflict with Russia.
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