Since Hungary has kept communication channels open with Russia, it is ready to mediate between Moscow and the West for the sake of peace and saving lives, Minster of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stated on Sunday at the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland.

According to a statement from the ministry, at the conference focused on resolving the Russo–Ukrainian war Szijjártó highlighted that he represents a neighbouring country to Ukraine, one that has lived in the shadow of war for nearly two and a half years, and has directly faced the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. More than 1.3 million refugees from Ukraine have arrived in Hungary, including many separated families without fathers or husbands, he reminded.

He stressed that Ukrainian families arriving in Hungary have been given access to free-of-charge Hungarian healthcare and education. Currently, about 1,600 schools and kindergartens in Hungary enrol children from Ukrainian refugee families. He pointed out that financial support is provided to Hungarian employers who hire Ukrainian refugees, and several hundred Ukrainian children have been given holiday opportunities in camps since the war began. He underscored that

this is Hungary’s largest humanitarian aid operation in its history, and it will continue as long as necessary.

The minister also reminded that about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians live in Western Ukraine, so Hungary is well aware of the suffering Ukrainian citizens have endured over the past two and a half years, including the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. ‘We know how many of them have been sent to the front, we know how many have died,’ he said. Péter Szijjártó stated: ‘We do not want more people to die in this war. We do not want more families to be torn apart.’

He said that Hungary is practically the last European country that has not severed communication with Russia. It keeps communication channels open and can negotiate with Moscow, he pointed out.

He emphasized that in order to ‘save children and prevent families from being torn apart’ Hungary is ready to play its part. ‘Please do not see it as a bad thing that communication channels are open,’ he noted.

The minister stressed: ‘We are ready, we are available, and if you have any messages in this regard, we are happy to deliver them to Moscow or St Petersburg, or wherever you would like, to save the children, to save the families.’

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