Hungarian foreign minister posts photos of two Ukrainian POWs released by Putin at Orbán's request
Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has reported that during his visit to Moscow, Russia handed over two prisoners of war who fought in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and hold both Hungarian and Ukrainian citizenship. He said they have been brought back to Hungary.
Source: Szijjártó on Facebook; Hungarian news outlet Telex
Quote: "Yesterday we brought the prisoners of war back from Moscow...
We Hungarians must do everything we can for peace and our most important task is never to allow Hungary to be drawn into this war taking place in a neighbouring country. We must stay out of this war and protect every Hungarian from the repercussions of this war and from the war itself."
Details: According to Hungarian outlet Telex, Szijjártó told journalists that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had asked for nothing in return for the prisoners of war.
He said Hungary had contacted the Russians after one of the prisoners of war had appealed to Viktor Orbán in a video message and the mother of the other prisoner had also got in touch.
Orbán spoke to Putin on Tuesday 3 March and asked him to consider releasing the two prisoners of war.
Putin said he had decided to "release two prisoners of war, as Orbán requested".
Szijjártó also announced that the first evacuation flight from Jordan has arrived and that soon "there will be good news for Hungarians stuck in Qatar, Oman and Dubai".
Background:
- Szijjártó arrived in Moscow on 4 March to ensure that the oil and gas needed for Hungary's energy supply will remain available during the crisis.
- Putin promised to release two Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen who hold Hungarian citizenship.
- Szijjártó said earlier that he would summon Ukraine's ambassador over what he called a "man hunt" for Hungarians for mobilisation.
- Szijjártó has also said he supports the illegal smuggling of Ukrainian men across the Hungary-Ukraine border, claiming that mobilisation in Ukraine is hindering the ending of the war started by Russia.
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