Foreign Minister of Ukraine: Budapest is one of the “open wounds” for Ukraine



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He also covered Hungarian-Ukrainian relations in a lengthy interview exclusively related to foreign policy with the Deny news portal. He reiterated that Ukraine had the right to determine what its educational system would be, not Russia, Hungary, Poland, the United States or China. He stressed that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe has made a series of comments and suggestions on the Education Law of Ukraine adopted in 2017, and Ukraine has implemented them, aligning the legislation with its international obligations, so Kiev considers the issue closed.

Kuleba recalled one of his meetings with his Hungarian partner, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where, as he said, he explained that Hungarian-Ukrainian relations could be reactivated. But they say that they will still be surrounded by many obstacles and ups and downs, and there will be those who will try to disrupt the internal politics of both countries, trying to intervene, especially Russia, as a “third force”.

Therefore, he suggested to the Hungarian Foreign Minister that they be morally prepared for a very difficult process, but the two ministers agreed that they would follow this path.

In Kuleba’s words, everything that followed confirmed that agreement. He expressed his conviction that Hungary, as Ukraine’s neighbor, has no aggressive intentions towards Kiev. He stressed that Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, so the two countries must find a common denominator based on mutual respect.

Moving on to the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine, he explained that they are citizens of Ukraine and therefore an integral part of Ukrainian society. “Therefore, all the anti-Hungarian hysteria that some forces are trying to spread in the community is not only hysteria against Hungarians, but also against Ukrainians, because we are all part of one body, Ukraine,” the minister said. He pointed out that Kiev is ready to normalize its relations with Budapest if Hungary adheres to the “rules of the game”.

In a television statement a few days earlier, the minister expressed his belief that Hungary would not completely block Ukraine’s relations with NATO.

Kuleba said that although the date of the new meeting with his Hungarian colleague, Péter Szijjártó, has not yet been set, both are prepared for it. He recalled that until 2017, the central leadership of Ukraine paid little attention to Transcarpathia and believed that Hungary could therefore “feel quite free in Transcarpathia.” However, the process that began then continues, he added. According to him, Kiev understands that Hungary is concerned about the fate of Hungarians with Ukrainian citizenship. Budapest has the right to care for them, but must do so within the “red lines” required by Ukrainian law, the Ukrainian foreign minister said.



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