Munich: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took a sarcastic swipe at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his address at the Munich Security Conference, joking about Orban’s “belly” while underscoring Ukraine’s frontline role in defending Europe against Russia.
Zelensky, 48, used humour to highlight how Ukraine’s military resistance against Russian forces has allowed European nations to live without fear of invasion or dictatorship. Referring to Orban, he remarked that Europe’s stability means even leaders like him can focus on personal concerns rather than preparing for Russian tanks on their streets.
“There can be a sovereign Moldova and a Romania without dictatorship, and even one Victor 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,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine Paying the Price for Europe’s Security
The Ukrainian president stressed the enormous human and national cost his country has borne in the war, calling Ukraine the frontline shield of Europe.
“But look at the price. Look at the pain Ukraine has gone through, look at the suffering Ukraine has faced. It’s Ukrainians who are holding the European front,” he added.
Tensions Between Ukraine and Hungary
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have been strained due to Orban’s pro-Russia stance. The situation has worsened in recent weeks as Orban intensified criticism of Ukraine ahead of Hungary’s closely contested parliamentary election scheduled for April.
Despite Ukraine applying for European Union membership just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, accession talks have stalled due to Hungary’s repeated vetoes.
Hungary’s Continued Dependence on Russia
Unlike most European countries that have reduced their reliance on Russian energy and imports, Hungary has not significantly diversified its imports from Russia, drawing criticism from Kyiv and its Western allies.