World

By Tuesday morning, 178,894 people entered Hungary at one of the five border crossings with Ukraine, government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkiralyi told a press conference after a meeting of the Mational Humanitarian Council tasked with assessing the humanitarian situation inconnection with the war in Ukraine.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, the Vatican under-secretary for migrants and refugees, on Tuesday arrived in Budapest to meet refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine and the organisations providing for them, as well as Hungarian political and religious officials.

The Visegrad Group stands for peace and stopping the war in Ukraine as soon as possible to ensure security in central Europe, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in London on Tuesday.

Hungary must prepare for a growing number of refugees from Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday and confirmed that weapons will not be transported to Ukraine from the territory of Hungary.

China can play a key role in preventing an escalation of the war in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Monday.

A total of 3,247 people fleeing the war in Ukraine, including 770 children, arrived in Budapest by train on Sunday, the Budapest police headquarters said.

People across Hungary have come together to help the refugees arriving from Ukraine, government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkiralyi said on Sunday.

The Hungarian Atlantic Council (MAT) has called on the Russian government to "immediately end the bloodshed" in Ukraine and engage in talks with Ukrainian representatives under peaceful circumstances.

The government's aid programme to help Ukrainian citizens fleeing from war raised 540 million forints (EUR 1.4m) in donations by Sunday morning, the state secretary for church and minority relations has said.

The government is supporting the member organisations of the Charity Council with 3 billion forints (EUR 7.8m) with a view to mitigating the effects of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine which also directly affects Hungary, government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkiralyi said on Saturday.