Hungary declines to condemn Russian attack on Kyiv which damaged EU building

Hungary has refused to sign an EU statement condemning the latest Russian attack on Ukraine. The document, prepared by the High Representative Kaja Kallas, was supported by the remaining 26 member states.

Russia attacked Ukraine's capital on Wednesday night, killing 23 people, including several children. This was the second biggest aerial attack on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The EU representation in central Kyiv and the British Council premises were also damaged. The statement noted that endangering the lives of diplomats is a violation of international law.

"Intentional attacks against civilians and non-military objectives are war crimes. All commanders, perpetrators, and accomplices of these grave violations of international humanitarian law shall be held to account," the statement read.

The 26 signatory countries pledged further support to Ukraine to reach a just and lasting peace and called for fresh sanctions against Russia.

"The EU will continue and increase its comprehensive support to Ukraine on all strands, including by accelerating work on the 19th package of sanctions," the text said.

On Thursday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also called for strong sanctions against Russia in response to the attacks. It's not immediately clear why Hungary did not sign the letter, but Budapest has systematically rejected any calls for financial or military support for Ukraine. Euronews has reached out to the Hungarian government for comment.

Hungary is at odds with Ukraine over pipeline bombing

Hungary's diplomatic ties with Ukraine are very strained after Ukraine bombed the Druzhba pipeline installation on Russian territory, effectively halting oil imports to Hungary and Slovakia for days. In response, Hungary banned the commander of Ukraine's drone unit, Robert Brovdi, from its territory, but also from the whole Schengen Zone.

The issue also resulted in a protracted spat between Hungarian and Ukrainian foreign ministers on the social media platform X. Hungary's government is also seeking to block Ukraine's EU accession. In a government-organised survey of opinion - Voks2025 - more than two million Hungarians, around 95% of respondents, opposed Ukraine joining the EU.

Hungary has frequently vetoed joint EU statements on Ukraine in the past, but lately the remaining 26 EU countries have tended to bypass Budapest and issue statements in their names. 

Two weeks ago, Hungary also refused to sign a statement supporting Ukraine ahead of the Alaska talks between the United States and Russia. Then, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the EU should not set conditions for a meeting to which it was not invited, and instead proposed the EU should organise its own summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.