Hungary, Poland clash after Hungarian PM’s speech in Romania

A diplomatic conflict has emerged between Poland and Hungary following a speech by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Băile Tușnad, Romania.

On July 27, Orbán criticised the new Polish government, accusing it of hypocrisy for condemning other countries' ties with Moscow while allegedly maintaining indirect connections with Russia themselves, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

In response to Orbán's speech, Polish Secretary of State Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski stated that Orbán is increasingly isolated within the EU and NATO.

Bartoszewski emphasised that unlike Budapest, Warsaw does not have business ties with Russia.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó retorted that Poland's reaction confirmed the Hungarian proverb, "The truth hurts."

He criticised the Polish government's behavior as provocative and hypocritical, expressing growing frustration with what he described as Poland's disregard for Polish-Hungarian solidarity.

“The current Polish government criticizes and accuses us of importing essential oil from Russia. However, if we examine the client list of one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, we will find Polish entities among them. There is no issue with energy supply being driven by physical needs, but if this is the case, there is no need for hypocrisy or shifting the blame onto others,” he added.

Orbán delivered a speech on July 27 during the closing ceremony of the traditional summer university in Băile Tușnad, organised by Hungarian public and minority organisations in Romania.

According to the organisers, over 7,000 people attended to hear the Hungarian prime minister's speech.