Hungary and Ukraine clash over Zelenskyy's new regional forum

Fresh tensions have flared between Hungary and Ukraine after Budapest accused Kyiv of including it in Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s new regional development forum without its consent.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar clashed with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X overnight, insisting that Hungary had never agreed to join the Carpathian Eight (C8).

Zelenskyy launched the C8 last Friday to boost regional investment, listing Hungary as one of its members. But Budapest denied any involvement on Monday, saying it had rejected an invitation to join.

In a social media post, Sybiha accused Magyar of following in Viktor Orbán's footsteps on Ukraine policy. Orbán, who led Hungary for 16 years until earlier this year, waged a fierce anti-Ukraine campaign, casting Kyiv as a threat to Europe.

"What we've been hearing from Budapest lately leaves us confused. It seems that while Viktor Orbán is gone, his policies of obstructionism and isolationism continue to thrive," Sybiha wrote on X, adding that Magyar's remarks were needlessly confrontational.

"Despite these statements, we still reiterate Ukraine's willingness and openness to developing mutually beneficial, pragmatic and respectful bilateral cooperation with Hungary."

Magyar responded in a comment, reiterating that Hungary had been added to the C8 list without its consent.

"I am helping you. To claim that a sovereign country is a member of an international cooperation (Carpathian Integration) without prior consultation or consent of the country concerned is completely unacceptable."

Magyar compared the situation to a local football team signing an unknown player from the neighbourhood without asking.

"We don't know each other, but you are in it, and you have to bring the ball."