Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar expressed the hope that his talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels would mark the beginning of closer cooperation between the two countries. Magyar proposed a symbolic meeting in the town of Berehove in Transcarpathia, where a significant proportion of the population is Hungarian, to open a facility restored with funding from the Hungarian state.
The Prime Minister emphasised that significant progress had been made between Budapest and Kyiv on issues concerning the rights of the Hungarian minority. He noted with pride that, in recent weeks, the rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia had been expanded in such important areas as education and the use of their native language. Magyar emphasised that diplomacy requires time and patience, but it is important that the agreements reached are put to the test in practice.
Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have for many years been overshadowed by disagreements over the rights of the Hungarian minority. However, it appears that both sides are prepared to work towards improving the situation. The meeting in Brussels, scheduled for 16 October, is set to be the first step towards a new phase of cooperation.
Against this backdrop, Hungary has also lifted its blockade on the opening of new negotiation chapters regarding Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. Nevertheless, Magyar cautioned against rushing this process, noting that negotiations could take up to 20 years, and expressed his confidence that Ukraine should become a full member of the EU, without any time limits.