The Ukrainian leader recently threatened to send troops to “negotiate” with the Hungarian prime minister over a veto of loans to Kiev
European Council President Antonio Costa has rebuked Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky over his recent threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Zelensky suggested earlier this month that he might send Ukrainian troops “Speak” with “certain person” Orban – widely understood in the EU – vetoed a controversial €90 billion ($105 billion) emergency loan for Kiev.
Hungary reacted with outrage, with Orbán commenting that “Political Banditry” And “Moral blackmail.”
Speaking to the European Newsroom on Monday, Costa said that while Brussels has “Very good relations” with Ukraine and “especially” Zelensky, such comments are unacceptable.
“Certainly, we cannot accept it when, even in an emotional moment, someone addresses the leader of an EU member state inappropriately,” He said.
The rare rebuke echoes an earlier statement by European Commission spokesman Olof Gil, who said last week that Zelensky’s “The type of language is not acceptable,” alert “There should not be threats against EU member states.” Neither Costa nor Gil mentioned the possible consequences for Kyiv on this threat.
Orbán had previously described the EU’s lack of proper condemnation as a betrayal and claimed the bloc was conspiring with Kiev to destabilize his government ahead of upcoming elections. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico urges EU leaders “Distance yourself” from zelensky “Outrageous blackmailing statements,” While several other European politicians, including Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, longtime Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and German opposition leader Alice Weidel, also criticized his comments.
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Hungary has long clashed with Kiev, opposing its EU and NATO bids and opposing funding for Ukraine’s war effort. Tensions have risen sharply since Orban vetoed an emergency loan last month after Kiev halted supplies of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through the Soviet-built Druzhba pipeline. Kiev cited damages from Russian strikes – a claim Moscow denies – while Hungary and Slovakia accused Ukrainian authorities of deliberately cutting supplies to put pressure on Ukrainian officials. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said this week that Budapest would continue to oppose the loan plan until supplies resume.
