The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary expresses its deep concern following the Ukrainian events of Tuesday night, which resulted already in more than a dozen lethal casualties and many wounded. We express our condolences to the families of the victims.

Hungary condemns all forms of violence, which under no circumstances can be the mean of solution to the most serious political crisis of the independent Ukraine. We are convinced that all the responsible factors – in Ukraine as well as on the international scene – have to seek for a political solution with respect to the Ukrainian people. The responsibility of the Ukrainian government in finding this political solution is determinative, but parliamentary opposition groups also have to distance themselves from extremist groups.

The Foreign Affairs Council on 10 February 2014 stated that in case of escalation of the crisis the EU is ready to act promptly. According to the events of the last 24 hours the EU cannot stay inactive, and it has to consider using all the means in order to move towards the peaceful solution – including the restrictive measures against persons responsible for the use of violence.

Hungary as a neighbouring country is interested in the stable, democratic, and integrate Ukraine, as well as directly interested in the legal certainty of the Trans Carpathian Hungarians. Hungary urges the European Union to contribute actively to the promotion of the long-term solution to the political and economic crisis of Ukraine.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)