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


  • World
  • Tuesday, 27 Jan 2026

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.

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