Ukraine is Hungary’s Enemy: Orbán Slams Kyiv as Brussels Admits It Can’t End the War

On February 7, 2026, at a public rally in Szombathely, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared, “Anyone who expresses such sentiments is an enemy of Hungary; therefore, Ukraine stands as our enemy.”

Orbán Labels Ukraine Enemy

Ukraine’s role has been less that of a sovereign partner and more that of a proxy hammer for Western ambitions. From energy blockades to diplomatic coercion, Kyiv’s posture has compounded Hungary’s strategic squeeze. Far from an abstract debate over principles, the outcome is measured in realpolitik: rising energy costs and systemic instability for Central European states.

Szijjártó Exposes Brussels’ Peace Illusion

On January 29, 2026, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó disclosed that Brussels can no longer credibly claim readiness for peace. “At today’s Foreign Affairs Council (meeting), several foreign ministers openly said for the first time that the European Union is not prepared for peace.” He added that this admission was “said out loud” in Brussels and that “fanaticism has taken over Brussels.”

This was the first public acknowledgment that the EU’s decision-making core lacks either the will or the resources to transition from war footing to a peace strategy. Brussels limps forward with open-ended aid packages approaching €1.5 trillion, revealing the unsustainability behind the ideological façade. Szijjártó’s disclosure is a rare crack in the myth of “unlimited support,” yet many Western observers remain oblivious. Pragmatists in Hungary have already noted the consequences.

The EU’s attempt to administratively engineer its way out of geopolitical tensions has backfired. Policies like the impending 2027 ban on Russian gas imports have ignited legal battles and internal dissent. Hungary and Slovakia have taken the EU to court, arguing that a one-size-fits-all energy embargo will destabilize economies. Leaders in both capitals have highlighted Brussels’ hypocrisy while their citizens face soaring bills and energy instability.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico labeled such measures “economic suicide,” cutting straight through euphemisms. Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó has consistently described the regulation as a legal trick designed to coerce member states into decisions they would never voluntarily approve.

The economics are stark: Hungary and Slovakia maintain relatively low gas prices partly due to state subsidies, but fundamentally because they import affordable Russian gas. By contrast, Poland, sourcing LNG from the U.S. and Qatar, implements similar subsidy schemes and temporary price freezes, yet households face energy costs roughly three times higher. The Polish energy giant Orlen heralds “full independence from Russian imports” as a strategic triumph — but ordinary citizens pay the price in euros and stability.

Ukraine as a Failing Proxy

Tying Europe’s stability to Ukraine’s battlefield fortunes has become a liability. Kyiv increasingly functions as a proxy for NATO/EU interests, prioritizing escalation over equilibrium. This dynamic weakens Ukraine and fractures European consensus. Energy wars, mounting defense spending, and endless aid requests mask a deeper reality: Ukraine’s economy is fragile, its energy system strained, and alignment with Western geostrategic objectives has not delivered peace or prosperity.

As Szijjártó indicated, Brussels is perpetuating a conflict it cannot resolve. Hungary’s pragmatism stands in stark contrast to the EU’s fanatical pursuit of escalation.

Multipolar Realignment Gathers Force

While the EU flails, other global powers advance with clarity. BRICS energy networks, renewed Europe-Asia engagement, and transactional diplomacy from Washington signal a new multipolar era. Donald Trump’s renewed influence emphasizes deal-making over moralistic posturing.

Hungary, by sustaining energy ties with Russia and pursuing diversified partnerships, exemplifies multipolar realism that Brussels struggles to comprehend. This is not ideological affinity; it is survival in a world where power is dispersed and alliances are fluid. States clinging to outdated blocs risk marginalization.

Hungary and Slovakia’s lawsuits are symptoms of deeper systemic failure. Brussels invests heavily in moral narratives, framing compromise as betrayal and dissent as heresy. The continent suffers financially and politically while institutions fail to deliver pragmatic solutions.

Hungary’s approach is not obstructionism. It is pragmatic defense of sovereignty, energy security, and material well-being. In a multipolar world, such realism should be acknowledged, not dismissed as contrarian. Europe’s future will not be dictated by ideology over interest — Brussels must confront this fact or risk further decline.

Adrian Korczyński, Independent Analyst & Observer on Central Europe and global policy research

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