Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared Ukraine an "enemy" of Hungary during a speech at a rally on February 7.
Orban, widely seen as the Kremlin's closest ally in the European Union, has repeatedly attacked Kiev and Brussels throughout Russia's all-out war against Ukraine, foreign media write.
Speaking at a rally in the Hungarian city of Szombathely on February 7, Orban criticized Ukraine for demanding that the EU ban imports of cheap Russian energy.
"Whoever says this is Hungary's enemy, then Ukraine is our enemy," he said.
His statements come shortly after the EU Council approved plans to stop purchases of Russian gas by 2027.
Hungary and Slovakia – both countries friendly to Moscow that remain heavily dependent on Russian gas – have challenged the decision at the European Court of Justice.
Orban also opposed Ukraine's EU aspirations, insisting again that while Hungary should cooperate with Ukraine as a neighbor, Kiev should never be granted EU membership.
"Hungarians should not want military or economic cooperation with the Ukrainians, because they are dragging us into war," he is quoted as saying.
Orban also announced that he would visit Washington, DC for the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's "Peace Board."
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