Hungary summons Ukrainian envoy over ‘insulting’ remarks

By Mehmet Yilmaz

BUDAPEST (AA) – Hungary on Wednesday summoned the Ukrainian envoy over insulting comments from Kyiv regarding Budapest's stance on Russia.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Facebook that his country supports the Ukrainian territorial integrity and allows people who had to leave the country to enter Hungary.

Stressing that the government will not risk the security of Hungarians, he said they will not supply weapons to Ukraine and they will not support energy sanctions against Russia.

"This is not our war, so we want to and will stay out of it,” he said.

He urged the Ukrainian leader to stop insulting Hungary and accept the will of the Hungarian people.

Recalling that the current government won the elections on April 3, he said Hungarians support the government's policy on the war.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban would have to choose between Moscow and the "other world", and that the Hungarian leader feared Russian influence.

Orban claimed a “great victory” in the country’s general elections. He won a fourth consecutive term as prime minister with about 86% of the votes counted.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which started on Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with the EU, US, and Britain, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,480 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,195 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4.24 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar