Ukraine's foreign minister slams Hungarian PM's refusal to join Carpathian Eight, compares him to Orbán
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha publicly criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar on X for statements rejecting Ukraine's Carpathian Eight regional format and refusing to allow oil storage facilities for Ukraine on Hungarian soil. Sybiha called Magyar's remarks "unreasonably confrontational" and compared his approach to Viktor Orbán's policies of blocking and isolation. Despite the sharp exchange, Sybiha said Ukraine remains open to pragmatic bilateral cooperation with Budapest.
Key points
- Sybiha responded on X, describing Magyar's statements as "unreasonably confrontational."
- Magyar said Hungary received an invitation to the Carpathian Eight summit but declined, citing "dignified reasons."
- Magyar also said Hungary would not permit construction of oil storage facilities on its territory for Ukraine's needs.
- Sybiha noted the refusal casts doubt on the bilateral energy memorandum between Naftogaz and Hungary's MOL on oil product storage.
- Sybiha said that although Viktor Orbán has left office, "his policy of obstruction and isolationism continues to flourish."
- Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness for mutually beneficial, pragmatic, and respectful bilateral cooperation with Hungary.
- The Carpathian Eight format is a Ukrainian initiative to strengthen cooperation among eight Carpathian-region countries.
Why it matters
The exchange marks a clear downturn in Ukraine–Hungary relations, with Kyiv accusing Budapest of maintaining Orbán-era obstruction even after a change of prime minister. Hungary's refusal to join the Carpathian Eight weakens one of Ukraine's flagship regional initiatives among its Carpathian neighbors, while Magyar's rejection of oil storage facilities on Hungarian soil puts in question a recently signed Naftogaz–MOL memorandum. Sybiha's framing also signals how Kyiv is likely to read any future Hungarian stance toward Ukraine: as continuity with Orbán's policies of blocking and isolation.
What happened
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, speaking in the Hungarian parliament on September 21, said Budapest had received an invitation to Ukraine's Carpathian Eight summit but deliberately chose not to participate, citing "dignified reasons." He added that Hungary would not allow construction of oil storage facilities on its territory for Ukraine's needs. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha responded the same day on X, calling Magyar's statements "unreasonably confrontational" and saying Ukraine did not understand the reasons for Hungary's categorical refusal. Sybiha argued that the Carpathian Eight format is meant to promote regional development, prosperity, and interconnection among the eight participating states, and he questioned whether Magyar's stance was compatible with the pragmatic energy-sector cooperation outlined in a bilateral memorandum between Naftogaz and Hungary's MOL. Sybiha drew a direct line to Viktor Orbán's tenure, saying "his policy of obstruction and isolationism continues to flourish" and that "Orbanism" had not benefited Hungary or the region and would not do so in the future. He concluded by reaffirming Ukraine's openness to pragmatic, mutually beneficial, and respectful bilateral cooperation with Hungary.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian media present Sybiha's response at length and adopt his framing of the dispute. Magyar's statements are described as "unreasonably confrontational" and as a continuation of the blocking and isolationist policies associated with former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Coverage emphasizes the recently agreed Naftogaz–MOL memorandum on oil storage facilities and portrays Hungary's refusal as a setback to a pragmatic bilateral track that Ukraine had been pursuing. Ukrainian sources also underline Kyiv's stated openness to cooperation, positioning Ukraine as the conciliatory party and Hungary as the one reversing course.
Background
The "Carpathian Eight" is a Ukrainian-initiated format designed to deepen cooperation among the countries of the Carpathian region. Separately, Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz Group signed a memorandum with Hungary's MOL on the construction of oil product storage facilities for Ukraine's needs on Hungarian territory, an agreement now thrown into question by Magyar's stated refusal to allow such construction.