Okamura slams Zelensky’s remarks towards Orbán as open threat

The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and SPD leader, Tomio Okamura on Monday denounced remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky towards Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, saying they amounted to an open threat of physical violence. He urged the European Union leadership to distance itself from Zelensky’s comments.

Tensions between Ukraine and Hungary have been rising since late January, when Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary were halted following damage due to a Russian attack. Orbán accused Ukraine of delaying repairs for political reasons ahead of Hungary’s upcoming elections. Zelensky said in response that the pipeline could be repaired within about six weeks, but added that if a single EU leader blocks a proposed €90 billion loan for Ukraine, he would give Ukrainian soldiers Orban's "address" so they could speak to him "in their own language."