The issue of ensuring the rights of national minorities in Ukraine should not be used to fuel an atmosphere of distrust and misunderstanding, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary on the appeals of Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen to creating autonomies for the Hungarian minority in neighboring countries.

"We must together resist attempts to use the issue of ensuring the rights of national minorities, including the interpretation of the words of Semjen, as has been repeatedly done by the Russian aggressor to create an atmosphere of mistrust and incomprehension. Because, thanks to the many years of efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and the Hungarian community, the level of cultural, religious and educational needs of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine is in many ways an example for other countries of the region," a commentary released by the Foreign Ministry's press service said on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry notes that Semjen's appeals were "appalled" and that Hungary "has always been and is an important partner for Ukraine."

"We highly appreciate the friendly nature of bilateral relations and the high level of constructive cooperation. And we expect that the position of respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and Constitution of our state remains at the heart of our good-neighborly relations. No speculation on this topic meets the interests of our two countries and peoples, and, we hope, reflect the official position of Budapest," the Foreign Ministry said.