Zoltán Kovács said that in the past month, more than 500,000 people have arrived in Hungary directly from Ukraine or through Romania, making this the largest humanitarian aid operation ever in the country’s history.
Hungary hasn’t witnessed so many refugees since the Second World War, and the wave of refugees will continue to rise, he said, stressing that Hungary is “prepared” and that “there is no limit neither in the number nor the supplies” that refugees entering Hungary can receive.
Kovács also said that the current government is having a decade-long political discussion with certain European actors and institutions, including the Commission. The European Union’s operating mechanism is very simple when it comes to finances, he said, noting that there is no need for any political conditionality or blackmail, as has been the case in recent years.
He pointed out that they are asking for funds due to Hungary that “have been withheld from Hungary for political reasons.”
In view of an escalating war and the half a million refugees who have already fled Ukraine into Hungary, this money has a place and a purpose, Zoltán Kovács said. He also stressed that they reject criticisms based on political accusations from the European Parliament and European left-wing parties.
There is no place for any political conditionality when it comes to urgent assistance, he said, noting that this is especially the case for the so-called frontline countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
Kovács added that any escalation of the war is not in Hungary’s interest, noting that Hungary was among the first to call for peace and the restoration of relations between the warring parties.
Photo credit: Facebook/Kovács Zoltán