Orbán said he received a message from Zelensky and advised him not to issue threats

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he received a message containing threats from his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, but took it as an attempt to intimidate the whole country.

He said this on Hungary’s M1 television channel.

Orbán warned that Ukraine will achieve nothing from Hungary through blackmail.

“Mr. President, I received your message in which you threatened me with your soldiers and, through me, all of Hungary. It won’t work—stop it. This is Hungary. Hungarians cannot be blackmailed, and I cannot be threatened,” Orbán said.

He also called on Kyiv to end what he described as Budapest’s “oil blockade” and to show Hungarians the respect “they deserve.”

On March 5, Zelensky said he would give Orbán’s address to the Ukrainian Armed Forces if Budapest continues to block a decision on granting Ukraine a €90 billion loan. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó condemned Zelensky’s threats and said no one can threaten Budapest. Hungary’s opposition parties Tisza and Jobbik also criticized Zelensky’s threats toward Orbán. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico wrote that Zelensky had crossed red lines with his statement.