Hungary's Foreign Ministry has summoned Ukraine's ambassador to Budapest over what it described as offensive comments from Kyiv regarding Budapest's stance on Russia's invasion.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a statement on April 6 that Hungary had condemned Russia's invasion, acknowledged Ukraine's sovereignty, and taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees as they stream across the border to flee the war.
It is "time for Ukrainian leaders to stop their insults directed at Hungary and acknowledge the will of the Hungarian people," Szijjarto said in a statement, referring to the reelection of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban on April 3.
"This is not our war, so we want to and will stay out of it," Szijjarto added, reiterating the stance that helped Orban secure a fourth consecutive term with a landslide election victory last weekend.
Szijarto was responding to comments made on April 5 by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who said Orban would have to choose between Moscow and the "other world," and that the Hungarian leader feared Russian influence.
Orban has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and did not veto European Union sanctions against Moscow, even though he had said he doesn’t agree with them.
But he also has refrained from criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin and rejected the idea of curbs on oil and gas imports from Russia, saying such a move would wreck Hungary's economy.
Orban’s government has refused to supply weapons to Ukraine or allow their transfer across the Hungarian-Ukrainian border.
Hungary's Foreign Ministry Summons Ukraine's Ambassador Over 'Offensive Comments'
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto: "This is not our war, so we want to and will stay out of it." (file photo)