Orban's 'War Psychosis' Accusation
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has publicly accused the Polish government of suffering from 'war psychosis'. The strong condemnation came on Wednesday, October 23, 2025, following remarks made by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski regarding the potential sabotage of a Russian oil pipeline that supplies Hungary. Orban conveyed his sentiments via a Facebook post, labeling Sikorski's comments as 'complete madness' and asserting that 'war psychosis has captured the mind of the Polish government'.
Sikorski's Controversial Pipeline Comments
The diplomatic spat ignited after Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski posted on X (formerly Twitter) on October 22, 2025. In his statement, Sikorski expressed hope that Ukrainian forces would succeed in disabling the Druzhba oil pipeline, which transports Russian crude to Hungary. His exact words were: 'Peter, I am proud of the Polish court which ruled that sabotaging an invader is no crime. Moreover, I hope your brave compatriot, Major Magyar, finally succeeds in knocking out the oil pipeline that feeds Putin's war machine and you get your oil via Croatia.' This comment was made during an exchange with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.
Context: Nord Stream and Druzhba Pipeline
Sikorski's remarks were made in the broader context of a recent Polish court decision not to extradite a Ukrainian national suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. Sikorski defended this ruling, stating that 'sabotaging an invader is no crime'. The Druzhba pipeline, meaning 'Friendship' in Russian, is a critical energy artery. While most European Union countries have ceased importing Russian oil via this route, landlocked nations like Hungary and Slovakia continue to rely on it for their crude oil supplies. Orban emphasized that destroying this pipeline 'would cause serious financial damage to Hungarian families'.
Escalating Diplomatic Tensions
The incident marks a significant escalation in already strained relations between Hungary and Poland, two historically allied nations within the EU. Orban warned that Poland's stance risked 'throwing away the thousand-year-old Hungarian-Polish friendship'. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also criticized Warsaw for 'celebrating a terrorist' in reference to the Nord Stream suspect. Internationally, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reportedly mocked Sikorski, referring to him as 'Osama bin Sikorski'. Previous points of contention between the two countries include Poland's withdrawal of its ambassador from Budapest and Orban's past accusations against Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk of 'playing a dangerous game'.
5 Comments
Comandante
Orban's concern for Hungarian families' energy supply is valid, as cutting off the Druzhba pipeline would be devastating. However, his strong pro-Russia stance makes it difficult for other EU partners to sympathize fully.
Muchacha
The 'thousand-year-old friendship' means little when Hungary props up an aggressor. Poland is right to be frustrated.
Mariposa
Protecting your own country's economy is paramount. Orban is doing what's best for Hungarians, unlike Poland.
Fuerza
Hungary's landlocked position and historical energy infrastructure make immediate diversification from Russian oil challenging. While Poland's desire to weaken Russia is clear, suggesting such drastic measures without viable alternatives for allies creates more division than solutions.
Manolo Noriega
Sikorski's comments highlight the moral dilemma of funding an aggressor through energy imports, which is a legitimate point. Yet, directly targeting civilian energy infrastructure, even if it feeds a war machine, carries significant risks and ethical questions.