"You are the true Hungary": an open letter to the Hungarian people
This letter is a public response to an open letter addressed to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, initiated and published on 21 June 2025, by Hungarian intellectuals and public figures. To date, more than 30,000 Hungarians have signed this letter of support for Ukraine.
The Hungarian letter expresses disagreement with the anti-Ukrainian rhetoric of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, condemns the Russian aggression that has persisted since 2014, and calls for an immediate, just, and lasting peace. It also demands security guarantees for Ukraine, reparations for damages caused and accountability for war crimes. Furthermore, it expresses the hope that the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine will not become a victim of the Hungarian government’s shameful, politically motivated rhetoric.
The full text of the Hungarian letter to the Ukrainian people is available at the following link: Letter to the Ukrainian People|SzabadHang
The Central European Strategy Institute (ICES), whose mission is not only research but also building bridges of understanding between Ukraine and its western neighbors, has initiated the response letter to the Hungarian people, especially given the critical importance of this moment.
ICES emphasises that this letter, as well as its overall activities, is not intended to interfere in the internal affairs of any sovereign state. Rather, it expresses a commitment to fair and open public dialogue between nations and peoples, based on mutual respect and solidarity.
It is worth noting that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán responded to the Hungarian public’s open letter. In doing so, he criticised its content using familiar narratives that contradict not only objective facts but even the current Hungarian National Security Strategy, which he himself signed. His full response by Viktor Orban can be read here.
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The open letter to Hungarian people and nation
Dear Hungarians, especially those who initiated and signed the courageous open letter in support of Ukraine!
We are touched and inspired to receive it from Hungary and from Hungarians. Especially at this moment.
Thank you for your words of solidarity. They are priceless and historically significant.To say them publicly during what is perhaps the most difficult period in modern Ukrainian-Hungarian relations is to stand on the right side of history and defend the truth.
We know and have never doubted that there is a Hungary that does not seek profit through betrayal and service to foreign interests, as you wrote in your letter. That there is a Hungary that stands in solidarity with Ukraine, supports us and honors the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in our struggle against Russian imperialism.
We know that this is the true Hungary, not the other Hungary. The Hungary of Sándor Petőfi and Imre Nagy.
The historical struggle against empires and lies, for freedom, independence, and sovereignty is what unites our peoples and nations, the whole of Central Europe. It has united us through the centuries, from 1956 to 2014 and 2022. It still unites us today. We even have a common slogan: "Glory to the Heroes" („Dicsőség a hősöknek!" / "Героям Слава!").
We are confident that this unity cannot be destroyed by politicians, disinformation and Russian propaganda, no matter how strong they may be. We are stronger than that.
We realise how much we still need to explain to each other about each other.
We deeply regret that the prevailing view in Hungary and among Hungarians is that Ukraine has ever sought – or continues to seek – to restrict the rights of the Hungarian minority. This is simply not true. In Ukraine, we have never aimed to limit the rights of ethnic Hungarians; our goal has always been to create better opportunities for learning the state language, to support the self-realisation of Hungarians within Ukraine. We recognise our responsibility for this misunderstanding and are committed to correcting it.
Both Hungarian and Ukrainian histories are marked by a continuous struggle for identity – for our language, culture and rights. Therefore, we, Ukrainians, cannot by the default aspire to what we have suffered from for centuries
Today, our resistance to Putin’s imperialism is a continuation of that same struggle. Russia has cynically exploited the issue of identity and the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine as a pretext for its genocidal aggression. ‘Protecting’ Russian speakers by killing them – as Russia has been doing for over 11 years – is nothing short of a diabolical plan.
The devil must be stopped. And we can only do this together.
Ukraine has never wanted this war. It does not wish this war on anyone else. We want to stop Russia in Ukraine, on our borders. Although the Putin regime openly says that it has no plans to stop in Ukraine. Just like in 1956.
Ukraine wants peace, security and prosperity. For ourselves and for Europe, which is our true historical home, unlike the Russian empire. That is why we want to join the EU and NATO. Just like Hungary did in its time.
We, the Ukrainian nation, which has been divided for centuries, also understand how important it is for you, the Hungarian nation, which has been divided by history, to be united again in Europe. This is another worldview aspiration that unites us. The political doctrines that try to justify that Ukraine should not be a member of the EU and NATO are not only anti-Ukrainian, they are anti-Hungarian and anti-European.
And we are confident that the wise Hungarian nation understands this today. We see it. We feel it. And we are incredibly pleased that we are now receiving such a powerful signal of solidarity and support from the Hungarian people. Thank you very much for it.
Hajrá Magyarország! Glory to Ukraine!
The letter was initially signed by (names are listed in alphabetical order):
- Alim Aliyev, founder of the Crimean Figs literary project
- Stanislav Aseyev, journalist, Shevchenko Prize winner, former prisoner of the Izolyatsia torture chamber in Donetsk, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
- Oleksandr Alfyorov, historian, Major in reserve
- Yuriy Andrukhovych, writer
- Maksym Butkevych, Principle of Hope Charitable Foundation, officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, former prisoner of war
- Serhiy Gerasymchuk Deputy Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism"
- Yaroslav Hrytsak, historian
- Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher, President of PEN Ukraine
- Oksana Zabuzhko, writer, laureate of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of the French Republic
- Joseph Zissels, Co-President of the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities (Vaad) of Ukraine, Executive Vice President of the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine
- Pavlo Kazarin journalist, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Shevchenko Prize winner
- Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 2014-2019
- Yevhen Klopotenko, chef, restaurateur
- Andriy Kurkov, writer, President of PEN Ukraine 2018-2022
- Andriy Lyubka, writer, volunteer, Director of the Institute of Central European Strategy
- Hennadiy Maksak, Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism"
- Myroslav Marynovych, publicist, former political prisoner (1977-1987)
- Oleksandra Matviychuk, human rights activist and head of the Center for Civil Liberties, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022
- Yuriy Nazaruk, co-founder of the Holding of Emotions "! FEST Holding, entrepreneur
- Yuriy Panchenko, editor of the online publication European Pravda
- Vitaliy Portnikov, political commentator, journalist, TV presenter, Shevchenko Prize winner
- Serhiy Prytula, volunteer, founder of the Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation
- Oleh Sentsov, Ukrainian filmmaker and military officer, former political prisoner of the Kremlin
- Sergiy Sydorenko, editor of the online publication European Pravda
- Oleksandr Sushko, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation in Ukraine
The letter is open for signing. To do so, please write to office@ices.org.ua