The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba promised to toughly respond to Hungary if it the authorities will continue to “cross the red lines” in support of their compatriots in Transcarpathia, reports UNIAN .
According to him, ethnic Hungarians in the region are primarily citizens of Ukraine. He called the support of Budapest permissible only if it does not encroach on the political integrity of the state. “As soon as you go beyond the red line, you must be prepared that we will immediately push you back. And we will do it firmly and decisively,” Kuleba threatened.
He added that the situation in Transcarpathia could have been much worse if Kiev had not stopped Hungary’s attempts to passportize its residents. The minister called on the Ukrainian authorities to work to prevent foreign interference and to react toughly to any provocations.
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary aggravated against the background of local elections in Transcarpathia. On October 26, the Ukrainian side banned two high-ranking Hungarian officials from entering because of campaigning in the region … Their names were not officially announced.
In 2019, a scandal erupted between Ukraine and Hungary. A video from the Hungarian consulate in Transcarpathia appeared online, in which the consul handed out passports to local residents and swore allegiance to Hungary. Later it turned out that these were not passports, but a package of documents for obtaining citizenship. Ukraine expelled a diplomat from the country; Hungary responded in a mirror image.