Russia

FM Szijjártó: EU keeps wants a military solution to the Ukraine war

Though it has finally been acknowledged at a meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council that the global majority wants immediate peace in Ukraine, most member states continue to urge a military solution to the war, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Luxembourg on Monday.

The war continues to claim many lives, and the possibility of increasingly grave natural disasters is arising, Szijjártó told a press conference during a break in a meeting with his EU counterparts, according to a ministry statement. Also, the danger of nuclear accidents is being talked about more and more openly, he added.

“All of these facts prove that there is no solution to this war on the battlefield,” Szijjártó said. “We’ve been saying this for a very long time, and unfortunately I have to tell you that the daily tragically sad developments are proving us right.”

“This war cannot be resolved on the battlefield, only through negotiations,” Szijjártó said. “But in spite of this, it unfortunately became clear again at today’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting that the vast majority of member states and the European Union itself insists on a military solution.”

“Although, after sixteen months, it has been acknowledged at the Council meeting that the global majority wants immediate peace, but despite this acknowledgement, they continue to urge a military solution in the European Union,” the minister said.

Szijjártó said those who favoured a solution to the war on the battlefield over a diplomatic settlement bore responsibility for the growing casualties and natural disasters, which he said would increase the price of reconstruction likely to be spearheaded by Europe.

But, he said, serious questions needed to be put on the agenda before any decision was made about how reconstruction would be financed and how it would affect the development funding of member states.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó noted a fresh report by the Venice Commission declaring that Ukraine failed to meet its obligations regarding the rights of national minorities.

He said Ukraine had been curtailing the rights of national minority communities since 2015.

He called Ukraine’s decision to delay the changes to the operations of minority schools “propaganda”, arguing that this offered no solution to the situation of ethnic Hungarian schools.

If Ukraine fails to restore the rights of the ethnic Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, it will not be ready to start accession talks with the EU, “and we won’t be able to give our support, either”, Szijjártó said.

Hungary expects Ukraine to meet the EU requirements and obligations enshrined in international treaties on guaranteeing the rights of minority communities, he said.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó said Hungary would never approve sanctions that would render the operations of its own nuclear industry impossible.

In response to a question, Szijjártó said Hungary had monitored this past weekend’s conflict between Russia’s Wagner mercenary group and the military leadership closely so that the government could act in a timely fashion if necessary.

Szijjártó said he spoke by phone on Saturday with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov as well as with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov who had briefed him on the situation and likely developments, adding that both officials had turned out to be correct.

He said he had also been in contact with Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik, who had briefed him late in the afternoon on a phone call between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin which eventually resolved the situation.

“So, long before the fact of the agreement or the resolution of the situation became public, my Belarusian counterpart had informed me about it,” Szijjártó said.

He added that he had simultaneously kept the prime minister updated about the situation.

June 27, 2023

Hungary to buy modular nuclear reactor in a few years

Hungary could consider the purchase of one or more small modular reactors (SMR), a class of nuclear reactor that is smaller than conventional ones and can be remotely produced, in 2029-2030, the minister of energy affairs said in an interview published on business news website vg.hu on Monday.

An SMR could be procured by Hungary in 2029-2030 “at the earliest”, Csaba Lantos said. The SMR would probably be set up in the east of the country, but other locations are also being considered, he added.

He acknowledged that Hungary depends on imports for 76 percent of its energy supply, above the EU average of 71 percent, but said the government had done much to establish interconnectors between networks of neighbouring countries.

Hungary has to expand its sources of supply, but it cannot give up imports from Russia “from one day to the next”, the minister said.

Lantos said he would like to see the lifespans of all four blocks at the Paks nuclear power plant extended for another 20 years, adding that the matter hinges on technical rather than political issues.

The four existing blocks at Paks are set to end their runs between 2032 and 2037. When two additional blocks are completed at the plant, capacity of Paks will reach 4,400 megawatts.

Hungary’s solar capacity is expected to reach 10-12 gigawatts by 2030, he said.

Asked when additional wind plants could be built in Hungary, he said the matter of the scale and location of wind turbines is one of debate with the EU. “We don’t want Hungary to be turned into an industrial landscape,” he added.

He said lignite-fueled blocks at the Matra power plant, in northern Hungary, would continue to operate “as long as necessary”, until three new gas-fueled blocks are built.

Featured image: illustration (PrtSc/YouTube/NuScale Power)

June 26, 2023

Sketchy Russian websites advertise easy resettlement in Hungary

There is an increasing number of Russian advertisements about Hungarian resettlement opportunities on the internet. Some of these advertisements give false hopes of some kind of state resettlement programme.

Portfolio reported about the upward trend of misleading Russian websites advertising a new, better life in Hungary. Of course, the Hungarian government does not offer any such type of programme. However, it is 100 percent legal to obtain a settlement license for lucrative purposes. Statistics show that a number of Russian citizens have already come to Hungary following these false promises, but mass migration is not yet the case.

The targeted people

The misleading advertisements usually target foreigners less familiar with the domestic situation in Hungary. The websites suggest that there is some kind of paid state scheme that could help foreigners obtain EU residency or long-term citizenship. This would obviously mean a free pass within the Schengen area. Some Russian articles promoting Hungary advertise the fact that you can travel visa-free to more than 150 countries with a Hungarian passport. What a tempting offer… Since 2017, there has been no golden visa-like paid state immigration option for wealthy foreigners who desire to settle in Hungary. These websites specifically target those vulnerable individuals who are frightened by the uncertainty caused by the Russian–Ukrainian conflict.

The money-grubbing scam

The Russian scams usually lead back to sketchy Russian companies with unidentified backgrounds, but some Hungarian money-seeker scammers might be connected as well. How do these scammers take the money unlawfully from innocent people? Mediators outline a great option for getting a Hungarian residency using the perks of the “residence permit that can be obtained for income”. The plan is usually buying two estates and then renting them out, to provide a permanent income. The mediators offer packages based on buying estates for 220-250 thousand euros. This sometimes includes the 20-60-thousand-euro agency fee for the mediator, but sometimes it comes as an extra expense. In the latter case, it is often misleadingly stated on the websites whether these are government costs or service fees.

False promises

Hungarian is a hard language. Victims of the scam sometimes sign loan agreements or buy overpriced houses. The victims are sometimes promised that they could bring their whole family with them. As the websites advertise this scam as a state programme backed by the Hungarian government, victims tend to think that there is some kind of guarantee for obtaining the residence permit. Scammers give false hopes about how long this process could take. Sometimes they promise just 8-12 months, but in fact it takes much longer. The Hungarian legal system and the practice of the authorities grant this kind of residence permit after eight years.

June 23, 2023

Survey: Majority of Hungarians support immediate ceasefire in Ukraine war

Fully 75 percent of Hungarians agree with calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a fresh survey by the Nezőpont Institute released on Friday.

The think-tank said in a statement that only 15 percent of the survey’s respondents disagreed with the need for a ceasefire.

In a breakdown of responses by age group, Nezőpont found that support for an immediate ceasefire was equally high among 18-39-year-olds (73 percent), 40-59-year-olds, who were born during the Cold War (77 percent), as well as those over 60 who lived through the armed conflicts and retaliations of the 20th century (76 percent).

In terms of political affiliation, Nezőpont found that 91 percent of pro-government voters agreed with the government’s position that the warring sides should enter into negotiations and reach a peaceful settlement.

Meanwhile, 58 of left-wing voters also agreed with calling for an immediate ceasefire, while 30 percent disagreed.

Nezőpont’s phone survey was conducted with a representative sample of 1,000 adults between June 12 and 14.

June 23, 2023

Expulsed Russian spy used to operate Hungary

A Russian spy, who was expelled from Slovakia in 2022 following the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, had been allowed to operate freely in Hungary for many years.

The Russian diplomat, Anton Goriev, was transferred to Slovakia in 2019 after potentially establishing links with Hungarian extremist groups in the 2010s. Goriev was known to the Hungarian government as an “identified intelligence officer” during his nearly eight-year tenure in Hungary, writes Telex.

Carreer of a spy

Born in 1983 in a village in southern Russia, Goriev reportedly had contact with the GRU (military intelligence) during his time in the Russian army in the early 2000s. Officially joining the Russian foreign ministry in May 2012, Goriev came to Hungary as a Russian consul.

The Hungarian foreign ministry did not provide detailed information on his assignment. However, Hungarian military and civilian counterintelligence detected Goriev’s work as a military intelligence officer.

Initially involved in support roles, Goriev’s fieldwork provided him with opportunities to establish contacts with pro-Russian Hungarian organisations. One such group was the Hungarian Peace Circle, which organised an anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian gathering with extremist organisations in 2015. Goriev allegedly attended this event as a consul, but the extent of his cooperation with the Peace Circle remains uncertain.

Controversy

Goriev progressed through the ranks at the Russian Embassy in Budapest. In April 2015, he assisted in organising a visit to Hungary by the Night Wolves, a Putinist motorcycle band. He also appeared at the inauguration of the Gagarin memorial in Ásotthalom in 2016, alongside then-mayor László Toroczkai.

Toroczkai denied any prior knowledge of Goriev and his involvement in the Gagarin ceremony. However, he did acknowledge that the Russian embassy sent Goriev to the event as a representative. The Hungarian government’s handling of the Gagarin memorial inauguration drew criticism from the US, following the release of two Russian arms dealers involved in an international investigation. The decision to grant Moscow’s extradition request raised concerns about Hungary’s commitment to law enforcement cooperation.

Transfer to Slovakia

In January 2020, Goriev appeared on the list of diplomats accredited by Slovakia. His transfer from Hungary to Slovakia raised suspicions, particularly due to his previous contacts with extremist groups. Cross-border activities by Russian spies are common, and experts emphasise the necessity of cooperation between allied countries’ counterintelligence services.

Péter Krekó of Political Capital has highlighted Goriev’s links to radical far-right groups and the attempts by Russia’s military intelligence to destabilise Western institutions. Slovak security services have been more proactive against Russian influence in comparison to the Hungarian authorities.

The current whereabouts and activities of the Russian spy remain unknown since his expulsion from Slovakia in the spring of 2022. However, it was reported that he was still employed by the Russian Foreign Ministry as of December 2022.

June 22, 2023

Fidesz politician: War can’t be excuse to restrict human, minority rights

Hungary stands by Ukraine and respects its unity and considers it important to preserve its independence, but the war cannot serve as an excuse to restrict human and minority rights, Zsolt Németh, the head of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Addressing a conference on the situation of minorities in Ukraine on the sidelines of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Németh welcomed the “milestone” of the Venice Commission’s report on Ukraine’s minority law.

The opinion published on June 13 is a “breakthrough”, Németh said. Acquired rights cannot be taken away and must be restored, he said, adding that Ukraine’s European integration could help promote this in the coming period.

“It is important to emphasise that we condemn Russia’s war,” Németh said. He also condemned that the minority issue had been cited as the reason for the aggression, saying this made it harder to represent national minority causes.

“We stand by Ukraine, but the war cannot serve as an excuse to restrict human and minority rights,” Németh said.

The international community has become determined to protect minority rights, he said, expressing hope that Ukraine would be open to the Venice Commission’s and the international community’s opinions.

Andrea Bocskor, an MEP of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, stressed that the Venice Commission had declared that there were problems in Ukraine when it comes to the protection of minority rights.

Ukraine has been curbing minority rights for years, she said, adding that hopefully the Commission’s opinion and pressure from the international community would convince Kyiv to amend its minority law.

Bocskor cited the Venice Commission’s report as criticising the minority law for being “disproportionate” in “forcing the Ukrainian language onto minorities”, which she said would have an especially negative impact in the field of education.

She said the decision to delay the introduction of the amendment to the education law regarding bilingual education until Sept. 1, 2024 gave Transcarpathian Hungarians “breathing room”, adding however that this only delayed the problem.

László Brenzovics, head of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ), said Ukraine needed to return to the application of European norms that used to be part of the country’s legal system.

June 21, 2023

Szijjártó: Ukraine is falsely accusing Hungary

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba “has once again levied false allegations against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Hungary” in connection with 11 Ukrainian soldiers brought to Hungary by the Russian Orthodox Church, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Tuesday.

The 11 soldiers, who had been taken prisoners of war by Russia, came to Hungary as a result of the work of the church and the Hungarian Maltese Charity, and without participation of Hungary’s government, Szijjártó said.

The soldiers have free movement within the country, “they do as they please and can contact whoever they want,” he added. “Instead of mendacious attacks and personal slights, we should rejoice in the freedom of these 11 men,” he said.

“Should my Ukrainian colleague have any doubts or queries, he knows where to find me,” he said.

Hungary continues to support a swift peace, as the only way to put an end to the suffering of several tens of thousands of people, the foreign minister said.

June 21, 2023

Hungarian Foreign Minister says peace will come if Ukraine does not get more weapons

The international community’s primary task should be to save lives, so in spite of “attacks and pressures”, the government is sticking to its standpoint and calling for the earliest possible peace in Ukraine, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Strasbourg on Monday.

Addressing a meeting of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Szijjártó said he had asked to speak before Europe’s broadest political platform in the interest of promoting dialogue, even though many participants likely disagreed with his position, according to a ministry statement.

The minister said Europe now faced the most severe economic and security challenges since the second world war, and it was a question of whether the regional conflict would broaden into a world war.

Some European leaders, he insisted, suffered from “war psychosis”. Ordinary people, he added, were not responsible for the war in Ukraine, yet everyone was paying the price in the form of skyrocketing inflation.

In the 16 months since the war broke out, Europe, he said, had been unable to end it and establish peace. “The danger of escalation is at a high point, while our competitiveness has hit an all-time low,” he added.

Szijjártó said Europe had committed two major errors by burrowing ever deeper into its sanctions policy while refusing not to compete with the US regarding who could provide more significant military support to Ukraine.

The war is taking place in Europe, he said, and its gravest consequences “must be faced here”. Europe, he added, had got caught up in a “distinctly dangerous spiral”.

“As more weapons end up in Ukraine, the longer the war lasts … ever more people die,”

he said, adding that the international community’s most pressing task was to save lives by securing the peace.

He said punitive measures had failed to bring Russia to heel; conversely, the fighting had only become increasingly brutal.

Hungary, he said as a neighbouring state of Ukraine was seriously and directly faced with the war’s fallout, and many Transcarpathian Hungarians had fallen victim to the war.

Szijjártó also decried “waning European competitiveness”, noting that the US had adopted laws skewed in favour of its own industries just as the EU placed companies under hardship on the back of sanctions.

The world, he said, was once again falling into rivalling blocs, which was “the worst possible news” for Hungary. Central Europe, he added, had always lost out when it came to conflicts between East and West. He called for “civilised cooperation” between East and West in place of conflict. “We’d support links based on mutual respect and mutual benefits,” he said.

Szijjártó warned against slashing EU-China economic ties. Citing the transition of the electric car industry, he said the sector, “decisive for the entire European economy”, was fully dependent on Chinese batteries, “so for this reason alone a fissure would be highly problematic”.

Whereas Hungary represents a minority position on the war in Europe, “the world is bigger than Europe and the transatlantic region, and the vast majority of countries want peace as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the Hungarian government was under constant attack and pressure for its position, but it was pursuing national interests in line with “the will of the people”.

As we told a week ago, Hungary released Ukrainian PoWs, Kyiv outraged

June 19, 2023

Hungary to vote ‘no’ to European energy market reform

Hungary will vote against the European Commission’s proposal to reform the European electricity market, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Luxembourg on Monday, adding that the reform would take away the right of EU member states to keep utility prices low.

Péter Szijjártó told a press conference on the sidelines of an EU meeting on energy affairs that due to the war in Ukraine and related sanctions the situation on the EU energy market was still “rather fragile”, with natural gas prices starting to ratchet up again. “Gas prices are way above a historic average, even if they are below last year’s peak.”

He said the bloc was not fast enough in building sufficient capacities to receive liquified natural gas (LNG) to meet demands that gained impetus after the coronavirus-related restrictions were lifted in East Asia. Weather can also be a serious factor that can create uncertainty not only around next winter but as regards water consumption needs this summer.

“In this situation the government has a dual goal and responsibility. First, it must ensure that Hungary has stable energy supplies; second, it must also ensure that low utility prices are protected,” he said.

The foreign minister referred to “serious attacks directed recently at Hungary’s utility cuts by Brussels”, adding that over the rejection of the commission’s proposal put forward on Monday, Hungary had also faced “yet another attack”.

The proposal would take away from member states the right to protect their citizens against high energy prices, Szijjártó said, adding that Brussels sought to seize the right to decide when to declare an energy crisis-related emergency and allow a member state to cut utility prices in such a situation.

“This is nonsense, because one of the main lessons learnt in the recent past is precisely that the realisation of the situation and quick response can help,” he said, adding that “rather lengthy and bureaucratic decision-making in Brussels” was not a solution to problems.

Szijjártó noted that Hungary had previously won a lawsuit in the European Court of Justice in that regard, which he said also went to show that Brussels had no right to take away this national competence.

He said Hungarians paid the lowest energy bills in Europe, “and we … will uphold this situation”. “It is utterly unacceptable of Brussels to take away this right from us, so of course we will vote ‘no’ to the draft reform of the electricity market.”

Regarding the controversies around nuclear energy, Szijjártó said that while “attacks have not subsided”, a strong pro-nuclear energy coalition had been formed with the French leadership, of which Hungary was also a partner.

“European energy security and environmental protection goals are impossible to achieve without nuclear energy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Germany “has once again come up with a proposal” to impose sanctions on Russian state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, he said. Rosatom leads the upgrade of Hungary’s only nuclear plant, which covers half of the country’s electricity consumption, he noted. Should the proposal be formally tabled, Hungary’s government will oppose it vehemently, Szijjártó said.

Germany argues that such a sanction would serve the interests of Ukraine. “We respect the interests of Ukraine but think that EU member states’ interests should weigh more in EU decision-making than that of non-members,” he said.

Regarding gas reserves, Szijjártó said that Hungary had already stored enough gas to cover 39 percent of its needs next winter, against the EU average of 22 percent.

Szijjártó also called for the protection of critical energy infrastructure, especially of the TurkStream pipeline. He said it was “nonsense” that “everyone conspicuously seems to be avoiding investigating the terrorist attack on the NordStream pipeline a few months ago”.

He said that developing transit routes in south-east Europe was key to energy diversification.

“Since this is a physical question rather than that of political pipedreams, the European Commission has a responsibility here,” he said.

He also called for EU action against “certain EU member states and third countries which have raised transit fees by utterly unfair proportions in a way that seems coordinated,” he said. “This is not a friendly or fair gesture, or one that suggests cooperation based on mutual respect,” he said.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó had talks with Peter Dovhun, Slovakia’s minister of economy, in Luxembourg, and discussed issues around energy policy. Szijjártó said on Facebook that Hungary and Slovakia’s energy interests largely coincided.

“Unfortunately, a debate has again flared up in Brussels about whether or not to impose sanctions on the nuclear industry. Therefore we have reinforced our alliance and will not surrender to pressure. We insist that defining the energy mix of a country should stay a national competency, and we will not allow the nuclear industry to be sanctioned,” he said.

June 19, 2023

Hungarian FM: TürkStream deliveries resume after maintenance

Deliveries have resumed over the TürkStream pipeline after successful annual maintenance, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in St Petersburg on Thursday, adding that Hungary’s winter reserves are being filled according to plan.

The Russian provider restarted deliveries earlier this week, and the volume is now up to normal levels, Péter Szijjártó said. Hungary’s reserves already cover 37 percent of the country’s annual consumption, against a European average of 21 percent, he said. “No matter how hard the winter will be, curbing gas consumption is out of the question,” he added.

“It is time everyone understood that energy supply is not an ideological or political issue but of rock-hard reality,” he said.

Should it be cut off from Russian resources, Hungary would be unable to satisfy its energy needs, “and so a pragmatic energy cooperation with Russia remains in our interest,” he said. The European Union’s sanctions also allow such cooperation, he added.

Szijjártó is attending the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he is slated to meet Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.

June 15, 2023

Head of the Hungarian PM’s Office has talks in Jerusalem

Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, started official talks in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Gulyás met Ron Dermer, Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, and Amichai Chikli, minister for diaspora communities, as well as former Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, and university professors.

After his talks, Gulyás met local journalists and gave a briefing on the Hungarian government’s foreign and domestic policies. He said the Hungarian government shared the European position that Russia had committed an aggressive act against Ukraine. He also highlighted the importance of providing help to Ukrainian refugees and that of seeking a ceasefire and peace.

On another subject, he referred to Hungary’s dependence on Russian gas as a “heritage from communist times” and said the government had made significant efforts to remove that dependence.

Answering a question referring to a recent survey suggesting that one third of the Hungarian population had anti-Semitic leanings, Gulyás questioned the credibility of the survey and said the Hungarian government promoted zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. The Hungarian government is working to build good ties with all religious Jewish communities, he added, and noted Budapest’s flourishing Jewish cultural and religious life. The city is “uniquely secure” in European comparison, he said.

On the subject of the United States’ moving its embassy to Jerusalem, Gulyás said the “question has been raised in all other countries, too, whether to follow suit.” As for Hungary, he said “the decision will be made at the prime minister’s level”.

Answering a question about the Hungarian parliament delaying a vote on Sweden’s NATO entry, Gulyás cited the Swedish government’s “unfounded criticism of Hungary”. “If they don’t consider Hungary a democracy, why would they want to join a club where we are members,” he asked. Sweden’s “mistakes” should be clarified through dialogue, Gulyás added.

On Thursday, Gulyás is scheduled to met PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

June 15, 2023

Tourists flood Hungary, but some are still missing

The number of foreign tourists in Hungary is back to pre-pandemic levels. However, unlike before, very few people are coming from one country. Can you guess who they are and what the reason is?

Tourists are coming to Hungary in huge numbers again

According to the president of the Association of Hungarian Hotels and Restaurants (Magyar Szállodák és Éttermek Szövetsége, MSZÉSZ), the number of summer bookings suggests that the number of foreign tourists in Hungary will reach pre-pandemic levels this year.

The expert stressed the importance of international events in the tourism sector. He added that Chinese tourists are once again showing renewed interest in Hungary, napi.hu reports.

International events attract them

“Foreign tourists have returned to Hungary, and based on the inbound tourism recorded so far this year and summer bookings, their numbers are approaching pre-pandemic levels. This was already reflected in hotel turnover at Pentecost, when domestic guests also arrived in much greater numbers than could have been predicted. But internationally renowned sports competitions also play a big role in this, which are always a big attraction abroad and help the capital to be full and generate high revenues,” Tamás Flesch, president of the Association of Hungarian Hotels and Restaurants, told napi.hu.

According to the expert, the Europa League final at the end of May attracted a lot of foreign visitors. A lot of money was spent in Budapest on those days.

Mr Flesch reminded that the 120th anniversary of the Harley Davidson Festival will take place in the second half of June. It is expected to attract 100-120 thousand people from all over Europe, who will not only stay in the capital but also in the surrounding towns and villages.

“We are also looking forward to the World Athletics Championships in August and Formula 1, because these are all major events that are good for inbound tourism,” he said.

More Chinese, less Russian tourists

The president of the MSZÉSZ said that after the end of the restrictions due to the pandemic, the interest of Chinese tourists is now on the rise again. However, there are far fewer tourists from one country than before.

“In terms of sending countries, Germany and the UK are still in the lead, but there is also a lot of interest from Israel. The Russian-Ukrainian war, on the other hand, means that Russian tourists, traditionally big spenders in the past, are still lagging behind from the Hungarian market, but inbound tourism from Eastern Europe is not doing badly,” Mr Flesch explained.

June 15, 2023

Polish general would support Hungary’s exclusion from NATO

In a recent interview, Waldemar Skrzypczak, the 4th commander of the Multinational Divison Central-South, was asked about essential matters. The Polish general thinks that PM Orbán has to make a decision soon or Hungary will be excluded from NATO.

According to Index, Waldemar Skrzypczak discussed important matters in an interview with Ukrinform about NATO’s safety guarantee regarding Ukraine. Furthermore, the Polish general thinks that an airspace closure could solve many problems.

Airspace Closure

An airspace closure would mean that aircraft are prohibited from entering or flying over the area. Waldemar Skrzypczak says:

“In this case, Russia cannot launch missiles against Ukraine and its planes cannot fly there. If Russia were to ignore this, NATO would have to ensure the safety of Ukraine’s airspace by sending its air force to Ukraine to protect Ukrainian skies. The Alliance has the capability to guarantee this.”

In addition to that, ensuring the safety of the Black Sea is also an important step. According to the Polish general, it is essential to ensure the effectiveness of the Ukrainian economy. Thus, providing safe waters and opening Ukrainian ports should be next on the agenda.

A Clear Message to Russia

Skrzypczak emphasises the importance of sending a clear message to Russia. If Russia continues its aggression in the area, NATO should send help. According to the general, the Alliance has to guarantee the safety of the country and its nation, since safety is the base of the reconstruction of the country and economic growth.

Hungary in NATO

Hungary has been a member of NATO since 1991. Will this change now? Skrzypczak said that Hungary was given plenty of time to come to its senses:

If Hungary is taking Putin’s side, it should be shown the yellow card and told that if it does not change its position, it will be excluded from NATO.

The Polish general is accusing Hungary of “terrorising” and “blackmailing” NATO and the whole Alliance. He says:

“If Viktor Orbán wants to continue blackmailing NATO, Hungary must be excluded from the alliance.”

The general thinks that PM Orbán’s position is harmful to the unity of NATO. Therefore, Hungary has to make it clear if it is standing with or against the Alliance. There is no place for countries supporting both sides in the Alliance.

Hungary’s Support Towards Ukraine

Ever since the outbreak of the Russian conflict in Ukraine, Hungary has shown great support towards Ukrainians. Refugees were welcomed in Hungary, as well as helped in entering the country via buses or trains. Recently, Hungary has sent aid to the flooded Ukranian region, which you can read more about HERE.

June 12, 2023

Hungary released Ukrainian PoWs – Kyiv outraged

Zsolt Semjén, Hungary’s deputy prime minister, said authorities released the eleven Transcarpathian PoWs Russia handed over on Friday. Kyiv is outraged, they summoned the Hungarian ambassador and want an explanation why they were not informed about Moscow’s PoW transfer.

According to Blikk, the PoWs were transferred to Hungary by the Russian Orthodox Church. They fought against the Russian invasion forces, some of them Hungarians, others Ukrainians, but all from Transcarpathia, a region inhabited by more than 100,000 Hungarians. Semjén said that the transfer of the PoWs was the bid of Hungary and a gesture of the Russian orthodox church towards Budapest. They are no longer prisoners since Hungary set them free after they arrived. “If I were a representative of Ukraine, I would be thankful”, Mr Semjén said.

Ukrainian authorities keep saying that the PoWs will be used in anti-Kyiv propaganda. The Zelensky administration believes they will say they were forced to join the army and received poor support on the front.

Defence minister: security first during wartime

The security of the country and of the Hungarian people is “a priority above all others” in wartime, the defence minister said in a video message posted on Facebook on Saturday, MTI wrote. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said he had been tasked, as defence minister, with ensuring the security of the Hungarian people, stepping up the country’s defence capability and strengthening the Hungarian armed forces. “The government is providing all material support to achieve those endeavours,” he added.

He noted that HUF 842 billion (EUR 2.3 billion) had been earmarked for the Defence Fund in this year’s budget and 1,310 billion forints would be allocated for the fund in next year’s budget. Defence capabilities are on the increase, new weapons systems are arriving and being put into commission, and soldiers are being trained to use them, he added. Hungary’s defence spending is set to exceed Hungary’s NATO commitment of 2 percent of GDP next year as well, he said. Szalay-Bobrovniczky expressed hope for a ceasefire and the start of peace talks as soon as possible, but also said that “peace requires strength”.

Featured image: illustration

June 11, 2023

Russian PoW transfer to Hungary: Kyiv outraged, Hungary deputy PM talks about ‘people’

Zsolt Semjén, the deputy prime minister for church policy and church diplomacy, has said his help in coordinating the transfer of 11 Transcarpathian prisoners of war to Hungary had been his “human and patriotic duty”.

News portal Index cited an announcement by the Russian Orthodox Church that a group of Ukrainian prisoners of war from the western Transcarpathia region had been transferred to Hungary at Budapest’s request and “with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill“. Semjén told news portal atv.hu on Friday that the transfer was “a gesture by the Russian Orthodox Church towards Hungary”, to which the prisoners had owed their freedom, MTI wrote.

“This is my human and patriotic duty,” the deputy PM said. Atv.hu said it understands that the transfer had been coordinated by Semjén and was in line with Pope Francis’s mission to facilitate prisoner exchanges. The website said its sources had confirmed that the transfer had been organised by the churches. The Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta was also involved in the transfer. The charity told MTI on Friday that it had received a request to help save lives. The organisation said that as in the last three decades, it had fulfilled the tasks that coincided with its mission, but declined to comment further.

Telex.hu suggested in an article that the prisoners of war transferred from Russia to Hungary were probably not prisoners of war, but Transcarpathian people Moscow wanted to set free. Telex believes they arrived in Hungary via Serbia, where Russian planes can still commute. Telex refers to Deputy PM Semjén, who continuously talked about people instead of PoWs.

Featured image: illustration

June 10, 2023

Moscow transfers 11 prisoners of war to Hungary

Some of the soldiers captured by Russia fighting on the side of Ukraine have been transferred to Hungary, the Russian Orthodox Church claimed. This was then confirmed by Zsolt Semjén, Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary. He said that this was a “gesture of the Russian Orthodox Church towards Hungary, and these people owe their freedom to it”.

The Russian Orthodox Church claimed that some of the soldiers captured by Russia fighting on the side of Ukraine had been transported to Hungary. Later today, the information was confirmed by Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister, Zsolt Semjén.

According to the statement of the church on Thursday evening, the prisoners of war are of Transcarpathian origin. They were transported to Hungary with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, at the request of the Hungarian side, hvg.hu reports. The deputy prime minister, who is also responsible for church affairs, told atv.hu that this is a gesture of the Russian Orthodox Church towards Hungary. He added that these people owe their freedom to this decision.

The prisoners of war were Transcarpathian Hungarians fighting on the Ukrainian side. Semjén personally coordinated their transport to Hungary, with the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service acting as intermediary, hvg.hu informs.

Featured image: illustration, Ukraine war (MTI/EPA/Szerhij Dolzhenko)

June 9, 2023

Hungarian president: “Sanctions have hurt us more than Russia”

President Katalin Novák , in an interview with the Swiss daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung (NZZ) published on Thursday, said the sanctions imposed in connection with the war in Ukraine “have hurt us more than Russia”.

Concerning the situation in Kosovo, Novák said in the interview with NZZ that though “we are, of course, primarily focused on Ukraine”, the Western Balkans should not be forgotten either, and the region’s European Union integration should be accelerated.

If something happens in Kosovo, the situation can escalate quickly, she said, adding that Hungary was hopeful that the situation would de-escalate and “everyone will keep in mind how fragile peace is”.

Novák said there were signs of “enlargement fatigue” in western Europe, but Ukraine’s and Moldova’s candidate status meant that anything was possible if the political will was there. This, however, should not mean that the Western Balkan countries will have to wait for the new candidate countries to catch up so that they can join at the same time, the president said, adding that there was “a very long road” ahead of Ukraine and Moldova.

Put to her that in the case of Serbia the principles of the rule of law did not meet EU requirements, Novák said there were “objective” conditions to EU membership, such as the economic requirements, while the rule of law was “a much more subjective” matter. Greater attention should be devoted to values, because Serbians live according to European values and the European way of life, “and they are very close to us culturally”, she said.

Concerning the state of European values in Ukraine, Novák said the new laws infringing on the rights of minority communities, including ethnic Hungarians, were “a step back”. Minority rights are part of the essence of the European community, which is why these laws “aren’t merely a bilateral problem”, Novák said, adding that there was no sign of any positive change.

She emphasised, at the same time, that she had condemned Russian aggression from the start, and that the whole of Hungary stood by Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Ukraine is defending itself on its own strength, but with the support of many countries, which has an impact on the course of the war, she said.

“Russia must not achieve its military objectives, we cannot allow that,” Novák said, adding, however, that no one knew how to achieve “lasting and just peace”.

Novák said she agreed with supporting Ukraine, but was concerned that military support further fuelled the flames of war.

Hungary maintains its position of not allowing the transit of weapons deliveries through its territory into Ukraine, just like Switzerland, which applies even tougher restrictions by not allowing the delivery of weapons produced in the country to Ukraine, she said.

Concerning the sanctions imposed on Russia, Novák said that emotionally motivated actions should not get in the way of a rational analysis, according to which the sanctions are having an effect, “but have hurt us more than they have Russia“.

“If we admit that the high inflation in Europe is also the result of the sanctions on energy, then we have to think about alternatives,” the president said.

Concerning energy ties with Russia, Novák said she supported the greatest possible independence from Russian natural gas and oil, “but this takes time”.

Regarding the future of Hungarian-Russian relations, Novák said the “framework” defining those ties was that Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, “and that won’t change”.

June 9, 2023

Hungarians would rather be closer to the Austrians and Germans than to the Russians

Hungarians would turn to the Western world, while some in the governing party would turn to Russia, but all of them see Hungary’s future in NATO.

Policy Solutions survey

The majority thinks Hungary belongs in the West, but the proportion of those who would move closer to Russia has doubled compared to two years ago. Thursday’s edition of Policy Solutions looked at how the Hungarian public thinks.

In Hungary, 55 percent of those surveyed believe that the country belongs to the West and should continue to strive towards it in the future. Only 13 percent of Hungarians disagree with this, interestingly enough, among Fidesz voters this figure is 21 percent, Népszava.hu reports.

On the other hand, a quarter of Hungarians would prefer to move closer to Russia and further away from the European Union. But even so, there are still more people (45 percent) who would not like closer cooperation with Russia.

Leading power in the Central European region

The majority of Hungarians do not think that Hungary could be the leading power in the Central European region. So we should accept that we will not determine the future of the region.

The survey also looked at who Hungarians would build close relationships with. There were 17 countries to choose from, of which Hungarians would most likely build closer ties with Austria (90 percent), Germany (87 percent) and Croatia (86 percent). In contrast, China, South Korea, Ukraine and Russia ranked last.

Unsurprisingly, among Fidesz and Mi Hazánk supporters, Ukraine is the most unpopular, while Russia is the most unpopular among the opposition.

NATO or not NATO

The vast majority of those polled support Hungary remaining a member of NATO. In addition, more than two thirds agree that Finland and Sweden should also have a place in NATO.

A majority is in favour of the EU providing financial support to Ukraine, but they do not want Hungary to pay.

June 8, 2023