On April 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, including military personnel. During the meeting, he expressed gratitude towards the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Hungarian community, emphasizing unity among Ukrainians despite political tensions.
Zelenskyy awarded military honors and presented a posthumous Order for Merits of the III degree to the wife of the late deputy head of the Transcarpathian Regional Council, Josyp Borto, who passed away in November 2023. Borto was also the deputy head of the Hungarian Cultural Society of Transcarpathia.
According to the President’s Office, discussions during the meeting included the educational needs of national communities in their native languages, the role of local government in state budget contributions, and measures to facilitate the return of Ukrainians who left the country due to Russian aggression.
Before the full-scale invasion, approximately 150,000 Hungarians lived in Transcarpathia, but community representatives now estimate that this number has halved. The Hungarian government has raised concerns that Ukraine has restricted the rights of Hungarians in the region, a topic that has been the subject of governmental consultations since 2017. Ukrainian officials assert that the rights of national minorities are protected, but emphasize the importance of proficiency in the Ukrainian language as part of state policy.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in Hungary on April 12, with Ukraine being a key issue amid ongoing tensions between the Budapest government and President Zelenskyy.
President Zelenskyy's meeting with the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia highlights ongoing concerns about minority rights and the impact of the war. As Hungary prepares for elections, the relationship between the two nations remains a focal point of political discourse.