Ukraine's Sybiha rebukes Hungary's Magyar over 'Carpathian Eight' refusal and oil-storage rejection

Why it matters

The exchange is a rare public diplomatic clash between Kyiv and Budapest over a Ukraine-led regional format, raising questions about the inclusiveness and viability of the "Carpathian Eight" initiative. The dispute also reaches a concrete bilateral energy project — a Naftogaz–MOL memorandum on oil-product storage on Hungarian territory — putting that cooperation at risk. By framing Magyar's positions as a continuation of Orbán-era obstruction, Sybiha has signalled how Ukraine interprets continuity versus change in Budapest's policy.

What happened

On 21 September, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar told the Hungarian parliament that Budapest had received an invitation to the "Carpathian Eight" format initiated by Ukraine but had deliberately refused to participate, citing what he called dignified reasons. Magyar also said his government would not allow the construction of oil storage facilities on Hungarian territory for Ukraine's needs.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded the same day on X, calling Magyar's statements "unreasonably confrontational" ("безпідставно конфронтаційні"). He said the reasons for Hungary's categorical refusal to join the format remained unknown to Ukraine and presented the Carpathian Integration Initiative as aimed at developing the region, promoting prosperity, connectivity, and mutually beneficial projects among the eight Carpathian countries. Sybiha also said Magyar's position on oil storage called into question the direct, pragmatic cooperation between Ukrainian and Hungarian energy companies agreed in a bilateral memorandum — a reference to the deal between Naftogaz and Hungary's MOL.

Sybiha went further, arguing that although Viktor Orbán is no longer in power, "his policy of obstruction and isolationism continues to flourish," and that "Orbánism" has not benefited Hungary or the wider region in the past and would not benefit anyone in the future. He closed by reaffirming Ukraine's readiness for mutually beneficial, pragmatic, and respectful bilateral cooperation with Hungary.

Magyar and Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán both replied publicly on X. Magyar said being listed as a participant of an international initiative without prior consultations or consent is unacceptable. Anita Orbán said the new Hungarian government has made many goodwill gestures toward Ukraine and that there is no analogy with Viktor Orbán's obstructionist policy.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian outlets — including hromadske, Ukrinform, NV, Yevropeiska pravda, Ukrainska pravda and ZN.UA — frame the story through Sybiha's X post, presenting Hungary's refusal as confrontational, unexplained, and a continuation of Orbán-era obstruction and isolationism. Coverage foregrounds the Naftogaz–MOL memorandum on oil storage as a concrete bilateral stake placed at risk, and emphasises Ukraine's openness to pragmatic, mutually respectful cooperation, casting Kyiv as the constructive party.

Where reporting differs

Sybiha characterises Magyar's statements as "unreasonably confrontational" and comparable to Orbán-era obstruction; Magyar and Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán reject this analogy, with Anita Orbán stating the new government has made goodwill gestures toward Ukraine and that there is no comparison to Viktor Orbán's policy. Sybiha says the reasons for Hungary's categorical refusal to join the "Carpathian Eight" remain unknown; Magyar, by contrast, publicly frames his refusal as a sovereignty objection — that being listed as a participant without prior consultation or consent is unacceptable.

Background

The "Carpathian Eight" / Carpathian Integration Initiative was launched by Ukraine to foster cooperation among eight Carpathian-region countries on regional development, connectivity, and joint ventures. Against that backdrop, Ukraine's Naftogaz group and Hungary's MOL signed a memorandum on building oil-product storage facilities on Hungarian territory for Ukraine's needs. Sybiha's critique of Magyar is explicitly anchored in a comparison to former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose Kyiv has long accused of pursuing a policy of blocking and isolationism toward Ukraine.