On March 5, the Acting Charge d’Affaires of the Hungarian Embassy in Ukraine was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side emphasized the inadmissibility of PR and politicization of sensitive issues with reference to the transfer of several Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russian captivity to Hungary without any prior notification or coordination with Ukraine.

The return of people from captivity is an absolute priority for Ukraine, as evidenced by the return of 200 servicemen today as part of exchanges. Work on this is ongoing at all possible venues and with all partners capable of facilitating the release of Ukrainian servicemen and civilian hostages, regardless of their ethnic origin.

The Ukrainian side reiterated its demand to ensure that the returned servicemen have access to Ukrainian consular officers for health examination, consular assistance, and guaranteed opportunity to freely determine their future without external pressure or coercion.

We expect a prompt response from the Hungarian side and official confirmation that the above-mentioned persons will be given complete freedom to choose their place of residence and further plans.