"It was not Ukraine that started this war. Perhaps some in Europe today would like to stay out of the conflict, but this option is not available at all," said Ambassador of Ukraine in Budapest, Nepop Liubov.Continue reading
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Thursday said Hungary stood by Ukraine’s territorial inegrity and sovereignty, and will take part in all talks of the allied forces on decisions regarding a coordinated response.
In a live video streamed on Facebook, Szijjártó said even the diplomacy of the “largest and strongest countries” had been unable to avert war in Ukraine.
Hungary is keeping its representations in Ukraine open, including its embassy in Kyiv, as part of its work to guarantee the safety of Hungarians, he said.
Szijjártó said he had had talks with István Íjgyárto, Hungary’s Ambassador to Ukraine, who said central Ukraine was as yet free of conflict. The Ukrainian national guard has doubled the protection of the embassy, and embassy employees are safe, Ijgyarto said.
The minister called on Hungarians currently in eastern or central Ukraine to contact the embassy.
The Transcarpathia region in eastern Ukraine, which has a large population of ethnic Hungarians, is “calm so far”, and Hungary is in constant contact with the leaders of ethnic Hungarians and local consulates, he said.
Should further steps become necessary, Hungary is prepared to “take them swiftly and in a timely fashion”, Szijjártó said.
Featured photo illustration by Tamás Kovács/MTI
