Ukraine summons Hungary's ambassador over anti-Ukrainian statements
Photo: Foreign Ministry building in Kyiv (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Today, January 28, Hungary’s ambassador to Ukraine, Antal Heizer, was summoned to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A strong protest was voiced to him over comments by Hungarian officials that Ukraine had interfered in Hungary’s parliamentary elections, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The Hungarian diplomat was told that Ukraine strongly opposes attempts by the Hungarian side to drag our country into Hungary’s domestic election campaign, as this openly undermines the development of bilateral relations," the statement said.
The Ukrainian side urged Budapest to stop its aggressive anti-Ukrainian rhetoric and warned that its continuation could have negative consequences for cooperation between the two neighboring states.
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stressed that Ukraine remains open to constructive dialogue with Hungary.
The ministry also emphasized the importance of unblocking negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, noting that this serves the interests of both nations, including the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.
Background
Earlier, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, made a series of sharp statements, publicly accusing Ukraine of attempting to influence Hungary’s electoral process and of violating democratic principles.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán later joined the accusations, claiming that Ukraine had interfered in Hungary’s parliamentary elections and ordering that Ukraine’s ambassador be summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Budapest.
Orbán also alleged that Ukrainian politicians, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had made“harsh insults and threats toward Hungary and its government last week.
According to him, Hungary’s national security services viewed these events as part of a coordinated campaign by Ukraine aimed at influencing the elections.
