The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon the Hungarian ambassador to protest the “completely unacceptable» statements made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about Ukraine, Kyiv announced today.

The announcement marks a further deterioration in relations between the two neighboring countries. THE Hungary has repeatedly criticized European Union sanctions against Russia, saying that ddid they succeed in effectively weakening Moscow, while they risk destroying the European economy.

The representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Nikolenko, in a message on Facebook, stated that theOrban told reporters that Ukraine is “neutral zone” and compared it to Afghanistan.

“Such statements are completely unacceptable. Budapest continues on a deliberate course to destroy Hungarian-Ukrainian relations“, he added according to what is relayed by the Athens News Agency.

“The Hungarian ambassador will be summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry for a frank discussion. We reserve the right to take other measures in response.”

Orban said earlier today that Hungary would veto any EU sanctions against Russia that hit nuclear power. Hungary has a Russian-built nuclear power plant, which it plans to expand.