Hungary seeks shift in Ukraine relations before Zelenskyy meeting

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has said he is optimistic about reaching an agreement with the Ukrainian president. The agreement could open Ukraine's path to EU membership. A meeting with Zelenskyy is expected next week.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar signalled his desire to improve relations with Ukraine, stating ahead of an expected meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week that he is optimistic about successfully concluding negotiations.

According to Magyar, he hopes to reach an agreement that could end Hungary's long-standing obstruction of Ukraine's EU membership negotiations. Hungary has repeatedly blocked or slowed the adoption of EU-level decisions related to Ukraine in recent years, creating tensions with the rest of the bloc's member states.

Hope for a fresh start

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have been tense due both to the treatment of Hungary's Ukrainian minority and Budapest's lukewarm approach to supporting Kyiv following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Under Magyar's leadership, Hungary has signalled a willingness to normalise these relations.

The meeting with Zelenskyy, expected to take place next week, could prove to be a significant step forward in advancing Ukraine's EU membership process. The EU enlargement process requires unanimous support from member states, which is why Hungary's position has been a critical obstacle on Ukraine's European path.