Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto expressed optimism Wednesday that Russia might release two ethnic Hungarian prisoners of war as he arrived in Moscow for scheduled meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The diplomatic visit follows a telephone conversation between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Putin on Tuesday, during which they addressed Middle Eastern developments, the Ukrainian conflict, and Hungary’s access to Russian crude oil and natural gas supplies.
Speaking in a Facebook broadcast from Moscow, Szijjarto revealed that two ethnic Hungarian captives had recently reached out to Hungary requesting assistance.
“I hope that after our talks more people will fly home on the plane than who came in this direction,” Szijjarto said.
The issue has become particularly sensitive as Orban’s administration has made the Russian invasion of Ukraine a central theme in campaigning for Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary elections, creating additional strain in relations between Budapest and Kyiv.
Approximately 150,000 ethnic Hungarians reside in Ukraine, with the majority concentrated in the Transcarpathia region. Budapest and Kyiv have maintained a contentious relationship regarding language rights for this community.
Hungary’s government has criticized Ukraine for drafting ethnic Hungarians into military service, arguing that Budapest believes these individuals should be exempt from conscription. Just last Friday, Szijjarto called in Ukraine’s ambassador to Budapest to formally object to the military drafting of two ethnic Hungarian men.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Orban’s administration has preserved friendly ties with Moscow and refuses to abandon its Russian energy imports, creating friction within the European Union. Hungary announced last month it would obstruct the EU’s upcoming sanctions package against Russia and oppose a 90 billion euro ($105 billion) European loan intended to support Ukraine’s defense efforts until oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.
