Heartbreaking that Ukrainian-Hungarian relationship became a punching bag in election campaign – spokesperson of Ukrainian minority in Parliament

"There isn't a day that goes by when we don't hear or see the word 'Ukrainian' used in a negative context on TV, on billboards, on social media, and in political statements," Liliána Grexa, spokesperson for the Ukrainian minority said on the opening day of the spring session of the Hungarian parliament, according to a report by 444.

Grexa asked the representatives how it is possible to make Ukraine, a country under attack by the Russian aggressor, and its suffering population, the Ukrainians, the subject of such a negative political campaign in Hungary? She noted that what the Ukrainian community in Hungary has had to go through since the parties running in the elections switched to campaign mode has been heartbreaking and shocking.

The spokesperson for the Ukrainian minority living in Hungary said that due to the elections, Ukrainian-Hungarian relationship has been turned into a punching bag. "This is shocking and heartbreaking for us, both for Hungarians of Ukrainian descent and for the refugees living here. After all, it is the Russians who are committing acts of aggression against Ukraine. Why isn't this what the media is focusing on? “Why is the Ukrainian community being vilified here in Hungary, a country that has also sacrificed so much for its freedom throughout history?”

Grexa thanked those in parliament who at least make it clear that their criticism is pointed at the Ukrainian leadership. Speaking of the campaign, she said that "it seems as if the Ukrainians chose the war themselves, but they didn't" . She recalled that "the war broke out when Russian soldiers, tanks, missiles, and drones attacked sovereign Ukraine, and it has been raging for four years now." She said that Ukrainians in Hungary can feel this on a daily basis.

The spokesperson asked that Ukrainians, “i.e. our relatives, friends, acquaintances, those over whose heads death has been hovering for four years in the form of Russian missiles and drones,” be left out of the Hungarian elections.

Levente Magyar, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, responded to the Ukrainian minority spokesperson on behalf of the government. Magyar said that they have recognized from the beginning who the aggressors in the war are. "We have always distinguished between the Ukrainian people and the political leaders of the Ukrainian state," he said. He then listed in detail the humanitarian aid Hungary has provided for Ukrainian refugees. He added though that Ukraine is not complying with its international commitments and has not restarted oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline.