In a 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, adding that he had spoken with Hungary’s Ambassador to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian national guard has doubled the protection of the embassy, and embassy employees are safe, the ambassador said. The minister called on Hungarians currently in eastern or central Ukraine to contact the embassy.

The Transcarpathia region in western 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.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó branded as “a foul lie” reports that Hungarian citizens seeking refuge at the Hungarian embassy in Kiev had been sent away.

Szijjártó said on Facebook on Thursday that it was “totally shocking” that, even in times of war, some were spreading fake news in the hope of gaining political advantage, “trying to discredit those that are working to help their co-patriots in trouble”.

He said that some fifty Hungarian citizens had personally visited the embassy building during the day “for various lengths of time” to consult with the officials on duty there.

“Since the basic infrastructure is working — there is water, gas and electricity — my colleagues at the embassy can carry out the necessary tasks and offer help to Hungarian citizens in trouble,” he said, adding that all Hungarians seeking refuge in the embassy building could stay as long as they felt it necessary.


MTI Photo