Szijjarto accuses Zelenskyy of lying, but visit of Hungarian delegation was indeed not coordinated with Ukrainian MFA

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of lying, posting a corresponding statement on Facebook on Wednesday.

"The Ukrainian president is lying. Zelenskyy claims he did not know about the arrival of the Hungarian delegation to Ukraine because the Hungarian government did not coordinate the visit with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. But what is the reality? Yesterday, in an official diplomatic note, we informed the Ukrainians that, under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Energy Gabor Czepek, a Hungarian delegation would visit Ukraine to inspect the state of the Druzhba oil pipeline and requested a meeting with the Minister of Energy of Ukraine," Szijjarto wrote on Facebook.

Interfax-Ukraine has obtained a diplomatic note from sources that the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to the Hungarian Embassy on March 10 in response. The note states that the proposed dates for the visit mentioned in the embassy’s note are unacceptable to the Ukrainian side, and it suggests coordinating new dates for the Hungarian delegation’s visit through diplomatic channels.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine presents its compliments to the Embassy of Hungary in Ukraine and, in response to the Embassy’s note No. 32/2026/HUEMB/KEV dated March 10, 2026, regarding the intention of Deputy Minister of Energy of Hungary Mr. Gabor Czepek to pay a working visit to Ukraine accompanied by a Hungarian delegation, has the honor to communicate the following. For the Ukrainian side, the dates for the visit proposed in the aforementioned Embassy note are unacceptable. We suggest that the Hungarian Side coordinate new dates for the visit of the Hungarian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Energy Mr. Gabor Czepek through diplomatic channels. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of Hungary in Ukraine the assurances of its highest consideration," the note reads.