Szijjarto: Ukrainian-Hungarian border crossings, missions fully operational

In a video posted on Facebook, Peter Szijjarto said that all embassy staff in Kiev and the Berehove (Beregszasz) and Uzhhorod (Ungvar) consulates were providing assistance to Hungarians and non-Hungarians alike.

Szijjarto said he was in continuous contact with the Hungarian diplomatic missions and the Hungarian Cultural Association of Transcarpathia, in western Ukraine. Also, all employees of Hungary’s Information Office are monitoring events in Ukraine continuously, he said.

Meanwhile, all five border crossing stations are open. Those at Barabas and Honya have had their opening hours extended, and are now open from 6am to 11pm, he said.

The minister cautioned that waiting times were long and the tailback of cars waiting on the Ukrainian side was 3-5km.

Hungary’s ambassador to Kyiv briefed Hungarian security bodies on Friday regarding the provision of temporary accommodation for the office’s staff, Szijjarto noted, adding that the centre of Kyiv was still peaceful and the Ukrainians had measurably fortified the Hungarian representations in Transcarpathia and Kyiv.

Hungarian diplomats and security personnel are in constant contact with Viktor Mikita, the governor of Transcarpathia, which is still stable and peaceful given the circumstances, he said.

Meanwhile, the minister said many third countries — India, Iran, Ecuador, Israel, Zimbabwe, the Maldives, Mongolia, Jordan — have asked Hungary to open a humanitarian corridor for their citizens stranded in Ukraine. He said embassy staff are organising safe passage for legal residents of Ukraine to Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, where the nearest international airport is located.

Also, fulfilling a request by Ukraine, Hungary is taking action to speed up the transit of humanitarian shipments to Ukraine via Hungary.

Szijjarto said energy supplies from Ukraine were uninterrupted and both gas and oil was flowing into Hungary.

He said war was “the worst-case scenario” and Hungary condemned Russia’s military operations and stood by Ukraine, supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said Prime Minister Viktor Orban had made this stance clear at yesterday’s emergency EU summit and would do the same at the forthcoming NATO summit.