Szijjarto discusses Ukraine war with Red Cross heads

Szijjarto held talks with Peter Maurer, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

At the meeting, Szijjarto said Hungary’s government had a duty to guarantee the safety of Hungary and Hungarians, and aid those fleeing the war, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

So far, 772,000 people have arrived to Hungary from Ukraine, he added.

By rejecting direct transport of lethal aid to Ukraine from Hungary, the government is ensuring the security of those living on either side of the border, and also aids the Red Cross’s work in Ukraine from the organisation’s logistics base in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, and its regional centre in Budapest, he said.

“The Hungary-Ukraine border is considered a safe one, and so humanitarian aid runs no risk of attacks,” he said.

Szijjarto said Maurer and Chapagain had thanked Hungary for its effors. “They understand how important it is that Hungary accepts every single refugee… we provide for them, treat them with respect, and try to help in all aspects of life. We will continue to do so until the end of the war,” he said.