Foreign Minister: Hungary provides humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees

As regards the situation in Kyiv, Szijjártó said the staff at the Hungarian embassy had reported hearing gunfire and smelling gunpowder all day near the embassy.

Hungary’s ambassador to Kyiv briefed Hungarian security bodies on Friday regarding the provision of temporary accommodation for the office’s staff, Szijjártó noted, adding that the centre of Kyiv was still peaceful and the Ukrainians had measurably fortified the Hungarian representations in Transcarpathia and Kyiv.

Szijjártó said Hungary had decided to evacuate from the capital some embassy personnel and their family members along with the staff of the Kyiv offices of the OSCE and the Council of Europe in a joint operation.

“Unfortunately, certain Hungarian left-wing media outlets made the operation public in a critical phase, which could easily have endangered the health or lives of the Hungarian and non-Hungarian citizens involved in the operation,” Szijjártó said. He added that the evacuation had successfully passed “a part of the critical areas”.

Hungary has opened a humanitarian corridor for the citizens of third countries in Ukraine who will be allowed to enter without a visa, Szijjártó said.

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Meanwhile, the minister said many third countries – India, Iran, Ecuador, Israel, Zimbabwe, the Maldives, Mongolia, Jordan – have asked Hungary to open a humanitarian corridor for their citizens stranded in Ukraine. He added that some countries will send charter flights to Hungary to pick up their citizens freeing from Ukraine. Others will return home on commercial flights from Hungary.

The said embassy staff are organising safe passage for legal residents of Ukraine to Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, where the nearest international airport is located, Szijjártó said,

adding that 25 Czech diplomats and their family members were given assistance most recently. The entry of 950 Indian nationals into Hungary is also under way, who will be picked up by a plane sent by India, he said.

Hungary is also helping Israeli citizens and has received requests for help from Jordanians, Iranians, the minister said, adding that 15 Maldivian students will also soon be granted entry into the country.

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A decision has also been made to allow swift and unimpeded passage for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, he said. Hungary is in constant contact with the governor of Transcarpathia, who has made certain requests for assistance which are now being reviewed, Szijjártó said.

Hungarian police forces are working at the border at full capacity, he said, adding that the pace at which people are being let through from Ukraine depended on the Ukrainian side.

The minister also said Hungarian lorry drivers in Ukraine and Belarus were receiving constant assistance “so that they don’t end up stranded somewhere”.

He said four Hungarian Wizz Air aircraft were stuck in Ukraine. In the meantime, the Ukrainian crew of the aircraft stranded in Lviv managed ot reach Hungary.

Szijjártó said he will next travel to New York to discuss the situation in Ukraine with United Nations leaders.

Szijjarto said energy supplies from Ukraine were uninterrupted and both gas and oil was flowing into Hungary.

Hungary condemned Russia’s military operations and stood by Ukraine, supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had made this stance clear at yesterday’s emergency EU summit and would do the same at the forthcoming NATO summit.

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Source: MTI