The Ukrainian and US first ladies met 30 km away from the Hungarian border, in Transcarpathia!
Jill Biden surprisingly appeared in Ungvár (Uzhgorod), Transcarpathia, Ukraine today to meet Olena Zelenska, the wife of President Volodimir Zelenskiy.
A secret visit
According to ATV, Jill Biden made a lightning visit to Uzhgorod, a Transcarpathian city 27.5 kilometres away from the Hungarian border. There, she met the Ukrainian first lady. Interestingly, Ukrainians celebrate mother’s day today. The two first ladies visited a local school and met people who fled from East Ukraine because of the Russian invasion.
The press release about the visit highlights that Jill Biden’s visit demonstrates how high officials of the USA support Ukraine. They added that
the first lady’s visit was kept a secret for “understandable reasons”.
Moreover, the Ukrainian press was not invited, only the press office of the White House was present.
- Read also: Hungary knew about the attack on Ukraine and wanted to take part of the territory, says Danilov
Refugees continue to come
According to the Hungarian News Agency (MTI), a total of 6,079 people crossed into Hungary directly from Ukraine on Saturday, while another 8,179 people from Ukraine crossed via Romania, the national police headquarters said.
Police issued temporary residence permits valid for thirty days to 618 people,
the police website said on Sunday. Holders of such permits must contact a local immigration office near their place of residence within thirty days to apply for permanent documents, it added.
Budapest police received 390 refugees, 162 children among them, by train, according to the municipal police website.
Uzhhorod is almost on the Slovakian border (a 9 or 10 minute drive). Much nearer than the Hungarian border. Further, it is described as being in Western Ukraine by the international media which does not have this obsession with Transcarpathia.