Szili: War cannot justify Ukraine’s curbing rights

“Obviously, making peace is of paramount importance but if EU integration is a priority for Ukraine it needs to meet all criteria that the EU has defined for all aspirants,” Szili said.

Szili insisted that a Ukrainian law passed in December last year “clearly stipulates assimilation for ethnics”, adding that “the closer Ukraine is to the EU, the more it dismantles ethnic minority rights”.

Being in a war situation “does not mean that Hungary should keep quiet over ethnic minority issues”, Szili said, adding that “Romania and all other neighbouring countries” had spoken up in protection of ethnic kin.

“Ethnic minorities living in blocs should be granted self-governance, communities in the diaspora should be granted cultural autonomy, just as is done elsewhere in Europe,” Szili said.