Keeping Hungary out of the war in Ukraine is in the interest of the Hungarian people, Orbán said, adding that nothing should be allowed that would jeopardise the security of Hungarians living in Transcarpathia.Continue reading
Hungary supports an initiative by eight European Union member states aimed at Ukraine’s EU integration, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Tuesday.
The Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Slovenia proposed last weekend that the EU should recognize Ukraine as a candidate for membership and start accession talks as soon as possible.
“Hungarians do not want war,” Szijjártó said, adding that Hungary would provide Ukraine “with every assistance that promotes peace”.
Szijjártó said he informed his Polish and Lithuanian counterparts about the government’s decision on Tuesday.
Hungary will make every effort to protect itself and its people against the war, and prevent the country should drifting into the conflict, Szijjártó said. The country will, however, “take solidarity with Ukraine, and stand by its sovereignty and territorial integrity”, he added.
Hungary will accommodate people fleeing from the war, and urge the continuation of talks between Ukraine and Russia, Szijjártó said.
The Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ) has thanked Hungary’s government for supporting Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership.
“In this situation this is of paramount importance for all citizens of Ukraine,” the association said in a statement.
Featured photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI