Hungary's Orban Dismisses Ukraine Sovereignty Amid Drone Airspace Incursion

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has publicly declared that Ukraine is not a sovereign or independent country, a stance that has further strained relations between Kyiv and Budapest amid allegations of Hungarian drone incursions into Ukrainian airspace. Orban downplayed the drone incidents, suggesting that even if Hungarian drones crossed the border by a few meters, it should not be viewed as a significant issue, emphasizing that Ukraine relies heavily on Western support and should not behave as a sovereign state. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Hungary of conducting reconnaissance flights over Ukraine, possibly targeting its defense industry, claims which the Hungarian government initially denied but Orban implicitly acknowledged. Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, condemned Orban's remarks as influenced by Russian propaganda and highlighted the potential security risks these drone flights pose, especially given the ongoing conflict with Russia in eastern Ukraine. Orban's position aligns with his Kremlin-friendly policies, including blocking EU sanctions and aid to Ukraine, and his criticism has elicited strong rebuttals from Ukrainian officials who view Hungary's dependence on Russian energy as compromising its stance. The drone incidents and Orban's comments underscore deepening tensions between Hungary and Ukraine within the broader context of the Russia-Ukraine war and NATO relations.