Trump ‘Very Angry’ With Zelensky After Attacks Jeopardize Key Ally
President Donald Trump expressed sharp frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a fresh wave of strikes endangered energy supplies to Hungary, one of Washington’s strongest allies in Europe.
According to Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert Brovdi, known as “Madyar,” Ukrainian forces targeted Russia’s Unecha oil pumping station, a key component of the Druzhba pipeline that carries oil to Hungary. The attack could suspend deliveries for several days, The Hill reported.
This was the second strike in recent weeks. On August 13, a prior attack set off massive fires at the pipeline, though repairs were completed by August 19, Politico EU noted. Ukraine hit the facility again on Friday, escalating concerns across Central Europe.
Hungarian President Viktor Orbán, who has stood firmly as both an ally of the United States and a balancing figure with Russia, blasted the strikes as reckless:
“Hungary supports Ukraine with electricity and petrol, in return, they bomb pipeline that supply us. Very unfriendly move! We wish President Trump every success in his pursuit of peace.”
Trump, visibly irritated, responded directly:
“Viktor – I do not like hearing this. I am very angry about it. Tell Slovakia. You are my great friend.”
Orbán’s frustration was echoed by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, who demanded the European Commission move quickly to secure vital infrastructure. In a joint letter, the ministers argued that after pouring “hundreds of billions of Euros worth of support to Ukraine,” these types of attacks were “completely unacceptable” and directly threatened the energy security of EU member states.
Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out overnight drone strikes on multiple energy facilities, including the Kursk nuclear power plant, which suffered a fire after a transformer was hit. Russian officials confirmed no casualties and normal radiation levels, but the International Atomic Energy Agency acknowledged the risks, noting it had not independently verified the incident.
Ukraine also allegedly targeted the Russian port of Ust-Luga, a major hub for energy exports. Regional officials blamed falling drone debris for the blaze, while Moscow’s defense ministry reported intercepting 95 Ukrainian drones overnight. In return, Ukraine said it had successfully intercepted or jammed nearly 50 of the 72 drones Russia launched into its territory.
Trump’s Push for Peace
All of this unfolds as President Trump continues his ambitious effort to broker peace between Kyiv and Moscow. Following separate meetings with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin — first in Alaska and later at the White House — Trump has been pressing for a framework to end the war.
A major point of contention remains Ukraine’s long-term security guarantees. Some European leaders are floating the possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union instead of NATO. At their urging, Trump personally phoned Orbán to rally support for Ukraine’s EU bid. But Orbán pushed back, writing on Facebook that such a move was “unnecessary and dangerous” because EU membership would not provide real security.
Speculation has also risen over a potential Zelensky–Putin summit in Budapest, though both sides remain skeptical. With fighting on the ground intensifying, Trump and his European counterparts face mounting pressure to deliver results after more than three years of bloodshed.