President Katalin Novák met László Brenzovics, head of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ), at the presidential Sándor Palace on Wednesday. Brenzovics told public media after the meeting that he and Novák had discussed the situation of Transcarpathia and the ethnic Hungarians living there, among other things. Because of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Transcarpathia faces a very difficult winter and will need support and solidarity for a long time to come, Brenzovics said. The KMKSZ leader said he had thanked Novák for the care, solidarity and support she had shown to Transcarpathian Hungarians. Brenzovics noted that Hungary was undertaking “one of the largest humanitarian aid operations” in its history in connection with the war. Transcarpathian Hungarians have received a lot of support, and the president herself has supported local orphanages, he added. Though Transcarpathia is far from the frontlines, the economic crisis, the power outages and air raid warnings have an effect on the lives of ethnic Hungarians, too, Brenzovics said. He added that the Hungarian government was supporting all areas of local life, including doctors, teachers, infrastructure investments, public institutions, and was also sending medicine and food. Without all this, the lives of the locals would be “far worse”, he said, adding they were hoping that the war would end as soon as possible and life could return to normal.