Hungarian language situation in Transcarpathia was better in USSR than in Ukraine – Orbán

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that the situation concerning the Hungarian language and education in Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia) was better in Soviet times than it is now in independent Ukraine.

Source: Viktor Orbán at a meeting of the Hungarian Permanent Conference (MÁÉRT) on Friday; European Pravda with reference to RTL.hu

Details: Speaking about Hungarians abroad, Orbán said that at present, the Hungarians in the worst situation are those in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia.

According to Orbán, the political leadership there is going down a path that leads to nothing that Budapest can support.

Quote: "I'm not exaggerating when I say that the situation with the Hungarian language and education was better during the Soviet Union than it is now under the Ukrainian state."

Details: Orbán said Hungary would provide all possible assistance to Hungarians in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia because, he says, Ukraine "continues to punish the citizens of Zakarpattia" despite the war. 

He also criticised Kyiv for supposedly failing to determine its military objectives clearly.

Quote: "It is very difficult to help a country that is waging war without an internationally recognised military objective."

Details: Orbán said that at the most recent EU meeting he had proposed that a "plan B" be devised for Ukraine, which would be better than continuing with the "current hopeless situation" in which thousands are dying in a "Christian civil war".

Why this matters: Recently, Hungary has stepped up its threats to block the start of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations over its alleged infringement of the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian-speaking minority.

The Hungarian government is planning to hold consultations with the population in which the main issue will be support for Ukraine's EU membership. This question is expected to be manipulative.

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