EU Commission criticizes Zelenskyy remarks it sees as threat toward Orbán
Viktor Orbán (Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo)
The European Commission condemned remarks by Volodymyr Zelenskyy that it interpreted as a threat toward Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Deputy Commission spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters on March 6.
“Regarding President Zelenskyy’s comments: we, as the European Commission, clearly state that such wording is unacceptable,” Euractiv quoted the official as saying.
“There should be no threats toward EU member states,” the official stressed.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hoped Ukraine would receive a €90 billion loan from the European Union, noting that the funds are needed to pay for weapons. However, the loan is currently blocked by Hungary, and Zelenskyy said he would pass the address of “one person” blocking the first tranche of the loan to Ukrainian soldiers.
“Let them call him and speak their own language,” Zelenskyy said.
Hungary reacted to Zelenskyy’s remarks, calling them a “threat” and “blackmail.”
Hungary was supported by Slovakia — another country whose relations with Ukraine remain tense. “If the Ukrainian president continues in this spirit, it may happen that other EU member states will also block the €90 billion loan for Ukraine,” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico wrote on the social media platform X.
On Feb. 24, the EU Council adopted two documents required to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan. However, Hungary continues to block the third document related to the allocation of the funds, which предусматривает amendments to the EU’s long-term budget.
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