Hungary is not supporting Ukraine with arms, but instead with humanitarian actions.Continue reading
After a long wait, the new Ukrainian Ambassador, Fedir Shandor, has finally arrived in Budapest. The arrival of the academic, who became known by the public for communicating with his students from the trenches, was announced by the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary.
“We are pleased to inform everyone that Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Hungary Fedir Shandor has arrived in Budapest to fulfill his diplomatic mission,” wrote the Embassy in a social media post on Monday evening.
“Exactly three years ago on this day, I stood in line at the military conscription office in Uzhhorod to join the army and march east to defend Ukraine with arms against our historic enemy, currently the Kremlin regime,” Fedir Shandor wrote ahead of his arrival on Facebook.
And this morning I am heading west to Budapest to defend Ukraine’s interests in Hungary and build good neighborly relations in Central Europe, now as an ambassador, not in a pixelated uniform,”
he announced on Sunday.
He added that he is grateful to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, for their trust. “It is an honor, a responsibility and a matter of life for me,” he stressed.
“I know very well where I am going, why and what I will do. My priorities are in line with the daily work of Ukraine’s large diplomatic team. These are the priorities of a country at war, seeking a just and sustainable peace; of Ukraine confidently moving towards the EU and NATO; of a country committed to reform, the rule of law and human rights, including the rights of national minorities,” he stressed.
Fedir Shandor noted that
he sees the potential of Ukrainian-Hungarian cooperation at all levels and “I will do my utmost to make the most of it.”
“More than anyone else, I am aware that Ukrainians and Hungarians are good neighbors, ready to defend together their countries and our common European home,” he concluded.
In August 2023, the signature of then Hungarian President Katalin Novák could be seen as a gesture of sorts, as she signed the letter of acceptance despite the fact that in a highly unusual move in international diplomacy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was reportedly “unavailable” to his counterpart for a long period of time. After the prolonged delay, Fedir Shandor was finally appointed by the Ukrainian President on December 21, 2024.
Featured image: Facebook/Ukrajna Magyarországi Nagykövetsége / Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary