"Every Hungarian feels with you and stands with you" – interview with Dr. Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary, by Kárpátalja

As Advent 2025 drew to a close, Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary, addressed the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, as he gave an exclusive interview to Karolina Darcsi, Editor-in-Chief of the weekly newspaper Kárpátalja, and Mihály K. Debreceni, Editor-in-Chief of TV21 Ungvár and correspondent for Hungary’s public media in Transcarpathia. The conversation touched on the urgent need for peace, Hungary's assistance, the case of József Sebestyén, and the superhuman work of Hungarian interest groups in Transcarpathia.

-    Mr. President, you are not only the President of Hungary, but also the President of the entire Hungarian nation. Here we have a small community in an extremely difficult situation, the Hungarians of Transcarpathia. How do you see the current situation of this community?

The situation of the Hungarians in Transcarpathia is indeed very difficult. We never thought that we would have to experience war in Europe again, with all its destruction and horror. We know that the Hungarians of Transcarpathia are also suffering from the war, we see their difficulties and feel their pain. We Hungarians belong together, and we can always count on one another, never leaving anyone to face challenges alone. I want to stress that Hungarians in Transcarpathia can rely on the support of all Hungarian communities.

Throughout history, the people of Transcarpathia have endured many misfortunes and trials, yet they have always risen and begun anew. In the present circumstances, they are once again demonstrating exemplary resilience. I sincerely hope that, as 
they have so many times before, they will regain their strength and continue to flourish as a community.

To achieve this, peace is needed above all else, but this does not depend on us – not this time, nor the many times before. Still, negotiations between the major powers have brought peace within reach, giving us reason to hope. Peace is essential for growth, development, and a dignified life. We must not give up on using all the means at our disposal to persistently advocate for it.

-    Over the past 10 years, the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia has been subjected to a great many harmful measures – I am thinking here of the education law and the language law – which, in the case of a country seeking to join the EU, are, to put it mildly, controversial. How can you help, through diplomatic channels and obviously without interfering in the internal affairs of another country, to restore the rights of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia?

One of the most important constitutional duties of the President of Hungary is to express the unity of the nation. The mother tongue and the opportunity to use it are fundamental to national unity and identity. This is guaranteed by international law and, within the European Union, by the rules of European law as well.

As President of Hungary, I consider it very important to emphasise that it is lawful, just and crucial to ensure that everyone can be part of the nation, and that a nation "lives in its language".  The law must be enforced. The revocation of acquired rights is not consistent with European standards.

-    The case of József Sebestyén, who died during forced conscription, has not brought the two countries any closer together, and to make matters worse, the Ukrainian authorities consider the case closed. How do you view this terrible tragedy?
It is shocking and appalling that such a thing can still happen in 21st-century Europe; it goes against all European fundamental values.

Although it is not my place to judge or comment on the actions of other states' authorities, I must note that the explanation provided by the Ukrainian authorities is completely unsatisfactory and unconvincing.

-    How would you assess the activities of the Cultural Alliance of Hungarians in Transcarpathia and the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association in these extremely difficult times?

These two civil organizations have made a decisive and substantial contribution to preserving the identity of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. I consider the establishment of the Rákóczi Ferenc II Hungarian University of Transcarpathia a tremendous achievement, and the credit for this is due to these organisations. On behalf of all Hungarians, I would like to express my gratitude for their work—the steadfast and selfless service they have rendered, continue to render, and will continue to render for the benefit of Transcarpathia’s Hungarian University.

-    Since the outbreak of the war, Hungary has been carrying out its largest humanitarian operation to date on behalf of the people of Ukraine. How do you see such gestures bringing the two countries closer together?

Since the outbreak of the war, Hungary has indeed been carrying out its largest humanitarian operation for the benefit of the Ukrainian people. We help everyone, regardless of their ethnic affiliation. This is more than a gesture; it stems from a sense of moral obligation dictated by humanity and Christian brotherly love.

-    Since the outbreak of the war, Hungary has been emphasising the importance of establishing peace, which is one of the basic conditions, indeed the most important basic condition, for the survival of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. But how do you think peace can be achieved?

There is logic to peacemaking. It is very difficult to make peace when the warring parties are shooting at each other and are not trying to reach some kind of agreement at the negotiating table through diplomatic means. So, in order for there to be peace, it is essential that the parties sit down at the negotiating table. Another very important prerequisite is that public discourse should not be dominated by voices of interests advocating for the continuation of the war.

Hungary is not a great power, its role in peacemaking can be commensurate with its weight. But our hope, for which we are doing everything in our power, is that we will be able to effectively promote dialogue and the importance of peace everywhere with the means at our disposal. It means a lot that Hungary currently has the authority to do so in the eyes of the world powers.

-    We ourselves are eagerly awaiting peace, and hopefully it will come soon. Obviously, after the ceasefire and the peace agreement, a process will begin that will aim to rebuild Ukraine. How do you see Hungary's involvement in this process, and what opportunities for cooperation await the two countries?

We all desire peace in our region, followed by a period of reconstruction and economic recovery, because this would provide an opportunity for prosperity not only for Ukraine, but for the entire Central and Eastern European region. I am confident that Hungary is capable of and committed to helping and supporting the recovery with all possible means. However, the specifics of this must, of course, be agreed upon by the governments, either bilaterally or multilaterally.

- Ahead of next spring's parliamentary elections, we are hearing more and more talk of certain circles wanting to withdraw voting rights from Hungarians living beyond the border and Hungarians living abroad. Do you think this can be done?

I consider it a huge milestone that Hungarians living abroad were granted the right to vote and effectively became part of the Hungarian public law system, even though they do not live in the territory of Hungary. In this way, our national unity is manifested not only in a spiritual and moral sense but also in a legal and constitutional manner. I do not even agree with the mere suggestion of any possibility of deprivation of rights in this regard.

- The Hungarians of Transcarpathia hold you in high esteem. Do you plan to visit Transcarpathia in the near future to express your solidarity with the Hungarians of Transcarpathia who are in a state of war?

It is my personal goal to visit every Hungarian community making up the nation, including, of course, Transcarpathia.

- With the New Year approaching, what message would you like to send to the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia and to the viewers and readers of Hungarian media?

Perhaps the most important message is that we are with you, with Transcarpathia’s Hungarian community. Hungary and the entire nation stand by you.
We are one, we belong together inseparably, and with this in mind, you can be sure that you can count on every Hungarian community, not only in words but also in deeds.
Our common hope is for peace. With this hope in mind, I wish all Hungarians in Transcarpathia a blessed and, above all, peaceful New Year. This is what I pray for.

– Mr. President, thank you very much for the conversation.

Thank you very much.

The interview was published in the weekly newspaper Kárpátalja on 30 December 2025.