Hungary to only help Kiev when 'Transcarpathians rights return': Orban
3 Min Read
Hungary's Prime Minister underlines that his country would only grant international support to Kiev when it stops discriminating against the Transcarpathian Ukrainians.
-
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses the media during a press conference as part of a migration summit in Vienna, Austria, on July 7, 2023 (AP)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared on Tuesday that Hungary would withhold its support for Ukraine's position at any international forum until Kiev reinstates laws ensuring the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians.
Orban's strong stance comes amid escalating tensions between the two nations over alleged oppression of Hungarian schools in Ukraine.
The premier underscored the Hungarian government's unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians, particularly children.
Furthermore, Orban accused Ukraine of a prolonged campaign to suppress Hungarian educational institutions, with a reported intent to convert them into Ukrainian schools or potentially close them down.
"Ukraine has been oppressing Hungarian schools for several years; they [Ukrainians] want to convert them into Ukrainian schools or, if that does not work out, close them," he said.
"The Hungarian government fights at every international forum for the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians, especially children. We will not support Ukraine in any issue in international life until the previous laws that guaranteed the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians are returned," Orban declared.
Many skirmishes and disputes
The dispute between Hungary and Ukraine over the treatment of Transcarpathian Hungarians has long been ongoing, with Hungary consistently raising concerns about the perceived infringement of minority rights in the region.
Hungary has many issues with Ukraine, with it being among the countries that oppose giving it aid and giving in to Western pressure to sanction Russia, and though Budapest has put sanctions in place on Moscow, they are not as paramount as they are when it comes to other countries.
Orban has been a vocal critic of Ukraine, saying in July that the country "stopped being a sovereign nation upon its reception of Western money and weapons."
"Kiev has lost its sovereignty and receives money and weapons from the West, that is why the conflict will end immediately as soon as the US wants it," Orban said.
He went on to say that the entire world is baffled as to why Washington refuses to end the war and is awaiting a response.
Orban in April proclaimed that Ukraine was "a non-existent country in financial terms," arguing that whenever the US and Europe suspend support for Kiev, the war in Ukraine will end.
Significantly, the Hungarian PM questioned whether "we [collective West] support Ukraine," and explained that the war in Ukraine will inevitably end "the moment America and Europe answer 'no' to this question."
Russia subsequently agreed with Orban that the US could end the war stating that the US is the main supplier of weapons to Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Orban's words, saying, "To a large extent, yes, of course, one cannot but agree with this, that is the way it is. It is the United States that is the instigator in the supply of more and more new types of weapons to Ukraine, ammunition, it is the United States that constantly encourages Ukraine to fight to the last Ukrainian."
