Hungary to take diplomatic steps over Ukrainian remarks, election interference concerns


BUDAPEST, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday that Hungary would take diplomatic steps after what he called offensive and threatening remarks by Ukrainian political leaders toward Hungary and its government.

In a video posted on social media, Orban said Hungary's national security services had concluded that recent statements by Ukrainian officials were part of an attempt to interfere in Hungary's parliamentary elections in April. He said he had instructed Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to summon Ukraine's ambassador.

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine, already tense, deteriorated after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week that were seen as referring to Orban.

Zelenskyy said that "every victor who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head," adding that "if he feels comfortable in Moscow, it doesn't mean we should let European capitals become little Moscows." Ukraine has rejected the accusation.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Pentagon weighs diverting Ukraine military aid to the Middle East, Washington Post reports
Former Taipei mayor sentenced to 17 years in corruption case
Address root causes of Middle East conflict, Malaysia says at UNHCR meet
Area near one of Russia's biggest oil refineries damaged by Ukrainian drones, official says
Bus falls into river while boarding ferry in Bangladesh, leaving 24 dead
Analysis-Maduro case to test US narcoterrorism law with limited trial success
Panel wants prosecution of ousted Nepal PM over violence in Gen Z protests
Indonesia military officer steps down following acid attack on activist
Tehran rejects US claims of ‘ongoing, productive’ negotiations
Russian attacks kill two in Ukraine's Kharkiv, damage infrastructure on the Danube

Others Also Read