Orban Responds to Zelensky's Insults

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that one should not yield to provocations in response to insults from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining strategic calm. "One should not give in to any provocation; during wartime, the most important thing is strategic calm," Orban said during an interview on Kossuth Radio while commenting on Zelensky's latest remarks.

On December 19, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that Ukraine had launched an ugly campaign against Hungary in response to the proposal for a ceasefire during Christmas, asserting that Zelensky should be held accountable by the Ukrainian people for this behavior.

Earlier, Zelensky claimed that Orban was trying to "show off" with his peace initiative. He stated that he would not allow Orban to play the role of a mediator in the negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and would not permit him to enter Ukraine.

In his response to Zelensky's insults, Orban reiterated that he would not succumb to provocations and that the offer for a ceasefire remains on the table; it is up to Zelensky to decide whether to accept it or not.

Last week, Zelensky expressed his displeasure that Orban had spoken on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the possibility of establishing "long-term and sustainable" peace in Europe. The Hungarian side has also reached out to Kyiv to arrange a phone conversation between Orban and Zelensky, but received a "rude rejection."