- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated he will prevent Ukraine from joining the European Union, following a public disagreement with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Orban has also threatened to stop crucial transit shipments passing through Hungary that are destined for Ukraine.
- Tensions between the two leaders have been high during Russia's four-year war on Ukraine, with Orban maintaining an anti-interventionist, pro-Kremlin stance, exacerbated by the recent detention of Ukrainian bank employees.
- The Hungarian leader has threatened Kyiv, indicating Budapest would use "political and financial tools" to force Ukraine to reopen the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Hungarian refineries.
- This anti-Ukraine rhetoric, particularly regarding Ukraine's NATO ambitions, has intensified ahead of Hungary's upcoming elections next month.
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