Zelensky is reported as recently saying that "his soldiers will pay a visit to the Hungarian prime minister" if Hungary did not agree to Ukraine taking European money, according to a ministry statement quoting Szijjarto.

"It is an entirely new situation in Europe for the president of a European country to threaten the prime minister of a NATO and EU member state with death or murder," the minister said. "Hungary cannot be threatened, nor can the Hungarian prime minister be threatened."

"Hungarians cannot be blackmailed. No matter what President Zelensky threatens, we will not allow Hungarian people's money to be taken to Ukraine," Szijjarto said, adding that Hungary could not be dragged into the war.

"We will not pay for their war, nor will we pay two, three, or four times as much for energy just because of them," he added.

Szijjarto insisted that the Ukrainian president was an ally of the Tisza Party, noting that the Tisza Party is a member of the European People's Party, while adding that "membership in the EPP requires support for Ukraine".

"The European People's Party is the most pro-war political group in the European Parliament. [EC president] Ursula von der Leyen and [EPP head] Manfred Weber are Zelensky's biggest admirers in Europe," he said.

Orban: 'We will break the oil blockade, no threat can deter me from this'

"We will defend ourselves and break the oil blockade; no threat can deter me from this," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday.

Orban said in a video posted on journalist Daniel Bohar's social media page that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent life-threatening threat against him was actually not about him but about Hungary.

"There is indeed a tense situation, with the Ukrainians imposing an oil blockade on Hungary, which we are working to counter, and we must break this oil blockade at all costs. We cannot agree with the Ukrainians on this because they are blackmailing us and trying to coerce us," he said.

"We want to show that Hungary cannot be blackmailed or coerced," he added.

He said the oil that has to pass through Ukraine and the Druzhba pipeline "is ours", and the Ukrainians had a duty to let it through.

"They are not doing us a favour -- they cannot bargain on this: it is their obligation under the agreement with the European Union," Orban said.

The prime minister said he would use all means at his disposal to break the oil blockade.

"I will use financial means, but not military ones, of course -- because we are on the side of peace -- but I will use every possible political means to protect the livelihoods of Hungarian families," he added.

Orban said this was not a matter of foreign policy, because energy was a domestic policy issue that affected the budget of every family.

"It's a matter that hits people in the pocket," he added.

"If we do not protect ourselves against Ukrainian blackmail, then Hungarians will pay the price. So we will protect ourselves, and ... we will break the oil blockade. And no threats -- not even life-threatening threats -- can deter me from doing so," Orban said.

Magyar: Neither Ukraine nor Russia can blackmail sovereign EU and NATO member Hungary

Neither Ukraine nor Russia can blackmail Hungary, a sovereign EU and NATO member, Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, said on Thursday in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's threat against Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to cut off gas supplies.

"No foreign head of state may threaten any Hungarian citizen!" Magyar said in a statement.

"On behalf of Hungary's future government, I reject in the strongest possible terms the blackmail and threats from Presidents Zelensky and Putin!"

Neither "the outgoing Fidesz government", the "future Tisza government", nor any Hungarian can be threatened, he added.

Magyar stressed that Hungary is a free country, and its citizens and government would not yield to threats from other nations. Hungary's energy supply, he said, was a national issue that transcended party politics and election campaigns.

"I demand that the leadership of the European Union sever all ties with Ukraine until President Zelensky clarifies his remarks and apologises to Hungary for his statement," he declared.

Magyar vowed that a Tisza government would go about foreign policy with "calm strength".

"Viktor Orban must be removed from office because he has failed to achieve almost anything, while his constant domestic provocations and incitement are dragging our country into conflict and chaos. There will only be peace at home if we change the system," he said.

"Until then, President Zelensky can freely give my home address to the Ukrainian armed forces: neither Vladimir Putin nor Volodymyr Zelensky can blackmail or threaten me," he declared.

"We are the heirs of the 1956 freedom fighters. This year, we mark the 70th anniversary of the revolution. To honour our ancestors' legacy and celebrate this anniversary in a truly sovereign, free, and independent Hungary, we must change the system on April 12," Magyar said, emphasising that under a Tisza government, Hungary would enjoy order, peace, and security.

MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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