Orbán summons Ukrainian ambassador over Zelenskyy's remarks and "interference in elections"
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in parliamentary elections and has ordered that the Ukrainian ambassador be summoned for a conversation.
Source: Orbán in a video on Facebook on Monday, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Orbán said that last week, Ukrainian political leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "made crude insults and threats against Hungary and the Hungarian government".
Quote: "Our national security agencies have analysed this latest Ukrainian attack and concluded that these events are part of a coordinated series of Ukrainian actions aimed at interfering in elections in Hungary, but we cannot allow anyone to threaten Hungary's sovereignty or the integrity of Hungarian elections."
Details: Orbán added that he instructed Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to summon the Ukrainian ambassador in Hungary. "We will defend Hungary's sovereignty and interests," he said.
Background:
- Last week, Zelenskyy said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that "every 'Viktor' who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head". He did not specify which Viktor he meant.
- Orbán responded to Zelenskyy's remarks, stating that "everyone will get what they deserve".
- The prime minister also said that Hungary "will not have a parliament that would vote for Ukraine's accession to the EU" for the next 100 years.
- This provoked a spat with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who said that Orbán's plans to block Ukraine's EU membership are doomed to fail, as Orbán's "master in Moscow won't last 100 years".
- Sybiha also compared Orbán to Hitler's henchman Ferenc Szálasi and accused him of blocking the restoration of peace in Europe.
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