Hungarian media reveal anti-Ukrainian article on the eve of FM visit

Before Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto's visit to Ukraine, Magyar Nemzet, a pro-Orban newspaper,  published an article condemning the situation with the Ukrainian media.

The latest article criticizes the activities of the Media Center Ukraine, which is responsible for dismantling Russian propaganda. 

"They provide additional information to correspondents visiting the Eastern European country about what is permitted and what is not. For example, they explain how to correctly describe and pronounce settlement names in Ukrainian while omitting their original Russian names. According to this, Kiev is Kyiv, Kharkov is Kharkiv, Dnepr is Dnipro, Donbass is Donbas, and Odessa is only Odesa."

Magyar Nemzet uses the name Lemberg to refer to the western city of Lviv, although the Hungarian government also uses the correct term.

"While a Potemkin village is being organized for the foreign press, not a single shred of classical journalism can be found in the Ukrainian national press."

The Hungarian publication also breaks down independent Ukrainian outlets. It claims that they are allegedly European taxpayers' money to publish news that satisfy the Ukrainian authorities.

"Male authors who work in media organizations with such connections are not threatened with mobilization, they can enjoy privileges if they berate Russians, Slovaks, Hungarians, Putin, Trump, Tucker Carlson, Viktor Orban, Robert Fico, Pope Francis and anyone who has doubts about the leadership in Kyiv from abroad."

The article was published on the eve of the expected visit to Ukraine by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. Some hopes are pinned on this visit regarding the warming in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.

The meeting between the foreign ministers is scheduled for January 29 in Uzhhorod and is intended to prepare a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.