Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that "threats to his life" from Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will not stop him from breaking the "oil blockade" from Kiev to Hungary.
Zelensky issued a scathing warning to Orbán on Thursday, over Budapest's continued refusal to lift its veto on billions of euros in European Union-backed loans to Kiev, and amid a dispute over Ukraine's blocking of oil supplies to Hungary through a pipeline from Russia.
The Ukrainian leader suggested that Orbán should not block new EU funding for Kiev, otherwise he would pass on “this person’s address to our armed forces” so they can “speak to him in their language.”
Orbán's response on Thursday was: "We will break the oil blockade, and no threat to my life will stop me from doing so," adding that "I don't think it's about me personally, but about Hungary."
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Zelensky had "crossed all boundaries," accusing the Ukrainian leader of using intimidation because Budapest refuses to "pay the price of the Ukrainian war" through rising energy costs.
“It is beyond any norm for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to practically threaten Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with death,” he added.
Szijjártó insisted that Hungary will not become a subject of blackmail and will not be drawn into the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, adding that the country's security is paramount and that it will stay out of "Zelensky's war."
Earlier this month, Orbán blocked a €90 billion EU emergency loan for Ukraine, which was to be provided by member states after they failed to agree to use billions frozen by Russia. The move came after Kiev cut off key Russian oil supplies to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline.
The Soviet-era pipeline, part of which runs through Ukraine, stopped operating in January after what Kiev claimed was damage from Russian attacks — a charge Moscow denies. Hungary and Slovakia, both heavily dependent on Russian energy, accused Ukraine of deliberately disrupting it for political reasons and creating obstacles to the resumption of oil flows.
Orbán, a long-time opponent of Ukraine's EU membership bid, has consistently refused to send weapons to Kiev or approve EU military aid, instead seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
https://www.rt.com/news/633973-hungary-zelensky-military-threat/
