'Since when do we need our Slavic neighbors to decide who we are?': Orbán reacts sharply to Kuleba's words

They might have meant it as a friendly gesture, but you can't say that about a country with self-respect, or if you do, don't be surprised if they pretend they didn't hear a thing

"I'm not interested in their opinion on this. The country should not stoop to the point where someone else has to judge what the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Hungary are like. If they were to do that – which is what happened here – we'll ignore it," Orbán stressed, commenting on Kuleba's statement.

The Prime Minister said that Hungary is a sovereign country and does not need the "stamp of kosher approval" from another country.

"What on earth? Since when do we need our Slavic neighbors to decide who we are?" he added.

At the same time, the head of the Hungarian government suggested that it could be a friendly gesture on Kuleba's part, "but you can't say that about a country with self-respect."

The prime minister went on to conclude: "...if you do (make such statements about another country - ed.), don't be surprised if they pretend they didn't hear a thing."

What Kuleba said

Earlier the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said that he does not consider the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Péter Szijjártó to be pro-Russian politicians. According to him, their position is pro-Hungarian.

Kuleba specified that the proof of this is Szijjártó's statement about supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.