Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko published an open letter to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Facebook.
In his message, Yushchenko recalled a time when, as he wrote, the future of the region “seemed shared and bright,” adding that he remembered Orbán as a leader who “understood the value of dignity.”
He stressed that Ukraine today is “bleeding” for the same values of freedom and urged the Hungarian prime minister to reconsider his position.
“Viktor, stop and remember who you once were,” Yushchenko wrote, adding that history does not forgive those who help evil or remain silent during great trials.
In response, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán published a statement on the social network X.
In it, he said that Hungarians “have always been a nation of freedom fighters” and remain so, and he called on Yushchenko to “warn your president.”
Orbán accused Ukraine of blackmail and said that “state terrorism,” in his words, was demonstrated by the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
“Make your president understand that the state terrorism with which he blew up the Germans’ Nord Stream gas pipeline will not work against Hungary,” Orbán wrote.
He also stated that Hungary would not take part in the war and would send “neither money, nor weapons, nor soldiers,” adding that Budapest wishes to remain a friend of Ukraine but does not intend to participate in the war.