BUDAPEST, February 11. /TASS/. Hungary will not allow Ukraine to interfere in its domestic affairs and is prepared to take retaliatory measures against Kiev's subversive actions, Hungary's Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar said upon departing on a visit to Kiev.
According to him, a few days ago, it was discovered that "Kiev actively finances and supports actions aimed at undermining the Hungarian government in the domestic and foreign affairs arena." All this while Budapest continues to take in Ukrainian refugees and provide humanitarian aid to the neighboring country. In this regard, Ukraine's actions "can only be looked at as a stab in the back," Magyar emphasized in a video message on his Facebook page (banned in Russia, owned by Meta Corporation, recognized as extremist in the country).
"It’s clear that this blatant external interference in Hungary's domestic political affairs cannot go unanswered. The purpose of my current trip to Kiev is to get an explanation from the Ukrainian government about what is going on, and if I don’t get one, I will raise the issue of possible retaliatory measures on Hungary's part," the deputy foreign minister said.
He noted that Hungary’s international credibility was at stake. "It is in Hungary's interest to maintain good relations with Ukraine, but for this to happen, Kiev must meet two conditions: the rights taken away from the Transcarpathian Hungarians must be restored, and Ukraine must immediately stop working against the Hungarian government and return to sincere dialogue," Magyar explained.
In early February, Hungary's security services received information that Ukraine had launched an international smear campaign against Prime Minister Viktor Orban, allocating significant financial resources for this purpose. According to Mate Kocsis, the leader of the parliamentary faction of the ruling FIDESZ - Hungarian Civil Union party, by doing this, Ukraine is seeking to undermine the prime minister's international image and weaken Hungary's ability to defend its interests.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly and openly expressed dissatisfaction with Orban's position on the conflict in Ukraine, which differs from that of almost all other EU leaders. The Hungarian government has consistently refused to supply arms to Kiev, advocates a peaceful resolution of the crisis and calls on the United States and the EU to negotiate with Russia.