Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar for the first time. The talks, held without delegations, took place on 16 October in Brussels, on the sidelines of the second day of the EU summit.
According to a Radio Free Europe correspondent, citing the Ukrainian delegation, the leaders discussed Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and the opening of the fourth and fifth negotiation clusters. Ukraine and the EU expect to begin negotiations on these clusters before the end of the year. The discussion also covered border controls, logistics and transit. Zelenskyy thanked Magyar for the return of funds from Oschadbank.
Péter Mályi wrote on social media that, during the talks, he welcomed the political agreement reached between Hungary and Ukraine on strengthening the rights of the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia.
“We regarded the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the law on education for national minorities, based on this agreement, and the immediate start of its implementation by the Ukrainian side as a first step towards restoring mutual trust,” he wrote.
According to Mádjár, the parties agreed to continue consultations at ministerial level, paying particular attention to further improving the situation of minorities living in both countries.
Later, commenting on the meeting, Zelenskyy stated that the parties had discussed “important issues” on the bilateral agenda and Ukraine’s progress towards accession to the European Union.
“I thanked the Prime Minister for the decisive steps taken and for opening up two further negotiation clusters. We are working to open the remaining two by the end of the year. We discussed the diplomatic situation and efforts to bring this Russian war to an end. I am grateful for the solidarity shown towards Ukraine and our people, as well as for the willingness to work together for peace. We also discussed opportunities for cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary, trade and issues relating to agricultural produce,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
He added that he had agreed with Mádjár to resume joint work at various levels and to exchange visits. “Our teams will work out the dates,” Zelenskyy noted.
The day before, the Hungarian Prime Minister had expressed the hope that, following talks with the President of Ukraine in Brussels, they would meet in Berehove, in Zakarpattia, and would jointly open a facility renovated at the Hungarian state’s expense.
The rights of the Hungarian minority have long remained one of the main sources of tension in relations between Kyiv and Budapest. Earlier, Magyar had insisted that the meeting with Zelenskyy take place in Berehove, but ultimately the parties agreed to hold their first official talks in Brussels.
Mályi’s statement came against the backdrop of Hungary lifting its block on the opening of new negotiation chapters on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
At the same time, the Hungarian Prime Minister cautioned against setting a specific date for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, emphasising that the negotiations could last as long as 15–20 years. According to him, Budapest supports Ukraine’s full membership, rather than temporary or limited forms of integration.