Hungary still keeps embassy in Kyiv open after brutal Russian attacks

Despite renewed attacks on Kyiv, Hungary will “for the time being” keep its embassy in the city open and ready to receive people in need of help, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Monday.

The embassy is so far unscathed, and the employees are conducting their duties there, except for instances when they have to retreat to shelters for their own safety, the ministry cited Szijjártó as saying in Berlin.

The embassy is working despite occasional interruptions of internet, phone and electricity services, Szijjártó said, adding that “we are in as constant a contact with the mission’s staff as possible”.

The missile attacks hitting Kyiv and other cities on Monday morning show that the war is escalating, and that brokering peace should be the sole focus of diplomatic efforts, Szijjártó said, calling for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks.

“Our stance that we are in the 25th hour to do something for peace was anything but exaggerated. Unless peace efforts replace efforts to escalate [the situation], this could spell serious trouble,” he said.

The Orbán cabinet has personally pointed to Moscow several times that a ceasefire is needed, but President Putin does not seem to be listening to the Hungarian government.

• Read also – PHOTOS, VIDEO: Hungarian FM negotiated with Russian counterpart under a huge Putin photo

Read alsoAnother favour from Moscow, Hungary gets payment extension with Gazprom