Volodymyr Zelenskyy knows how powerful words are.

On the first day of Russia's invasion of his country, Ukraine's president made a rousing appeal to European Union leaders - paving the way for much tougher sanctions and direct arms aid.

On Thursday evening, Zelenskyj had another chance to speak to the European Council's conscience.

But this time he gave it away.

What's more, he antagonized some heads of government.

Afterwards there was talk of an “arrogant” appearance.

The Ukrainian President distributed "top notes".

This did not bring him any closer to his desire for even tougher sanctions, and they may even have moved further into the distance.

Thomas Gutschker

Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.

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What happened?

Zelenskyy delivered his third address of the day, having previously addressed the leaders of NATO and the G-7 countries, each time with a message tailored precisely to his audience.

He demanded heavy weapons from the military alliance, a trade embargo against Russia from the seven most important industrialized countries, rapid accession from the EU and an energy embargo.

The fact that he was demanding and criticized the partners for their hesitancy was not new.

What was new was that in his last appeal he suddenly went through country by country and rated its loyalty.

"Emmanuel, I really believe that you will stick by us"

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland - all "on our side", that's how it started.

"France – Emmanuel, I really believe that you will stand by us," Zelenskyy continued;

that sounded like two minuses.

“Greece, I believe, will stand by us.

Germany... a little later.

Portugal, well, almost.” So more like three or four.

The Dutch are "rational", so you will find a common basis.

In the end, after grading 26 countries, the Ukrainian teacher took on the worst student: "Hungary...I'll stop here and be honest, once and for all." Budapest is a beautiful city, for sure.

"Listen, Viktor, do you actually know what's going on in Mariupol?" If so, then the Hungarian Prime Minister should go to the banks of the Danube, to the memorial that commemorates the Jews,

That was the greatest possible provocation that Zelenskyy could hurl at the Hungarian.

Its replica was not long in coming.

It was moderate in tone, but not in substance.

Orbán rejected Zelenskyy's demands for an energy embargo and Hungarian arms supplies, his spokesman said on Friday morning, "because they go against Hungary's interests".

The country wants to stay out of the war, so it will continue not to supply weapons, but has taken in half a million Ukrainians.

It cannot replace Russian energy supplies in the short term.

"That's why we will continue to oppose the extension of sanctions to Russian energy producers in all European forums." That in turn sounded like a veto threat - and could not be in Zelenskyj's sense.