Jan 27 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s foreign ministry will summon Hungary’s ambassador to complain about «completely unacceptable» comments Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made about Ukraine, Kyiv announced on Friday.
The announcement marks a new low in ties between the two neighbours. Hungary has repeatedly criticized European Union sanctions against Russia, saying they have failed to significantly weaken Moscow when they risk destroying Europe’s economy.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko, writing on Facebook, said Orban told reporters that Ukraine was a no-man’s land and compared it to Afghanistan.
«Such statements are completely unacceptable. Budapest is pursuing a deliberate move aimed at destroying Hungarian-Ukrainian relations,» he said.
«The Hungarian Ambassador will be summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry for a frank discussion. We reserve the right to take further action in response.»
Orban said on Friday that Hungary would veto any EU sanctions against Russia over nuclear power. Hungary has a Russian-built nuclear power plant which it plans to expand.
Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
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