Hungary's incoming PM follows Orbán, setting EU entry conditions for Ukraine — Bloomberg
Photo: Péter Magyar (Getty Images)
Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar is demanding more rights for Hungarians in Ukraine before approving the start of Kyiv’s official EU accession talks, according to Bloomberg.
According to the agency's sources, this issue arose during a meeting on Wednesday between Magyar and European Council President António Costa in Brussels.
The European Union is pressuring Magyar to abandon the outgoing government’s resistance and support the official opening of membership negotiations with Ukraine.
Mágyar put forward conditions that largely echo the list of 11 demands that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán presented to Kyiv in 2024. In particular, they concerned the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine and access to education in the Hungarian language.
Although Magyar described the meeting with Costa as useful and constructive, the mood was less positive than during his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier that day, sources say.
According to Bloomberg sources, Magyar's hardline stance is likely to disappoint officials in Kyiv and Brussels who had hoped that Orbán’s departure would give momentum to Ukraine’s membership bid, particularly regarding the official opening of negotiations on several political documents.
Magyar wants to meet with Zelenskyy
On April 28, Magyar announced his intention to initiate a meeting with Zelenskyy in Berehove, calling it a step toward a new chapter in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.
Also, immediately after his victory in the Hungarian parliamentary elections, Magyar stated he would definitely meet with Zelenskyy, if not somewhere else, then at the European Council.
At the time, he emphasized that improving relations with Ukraine was one of the priorities of his future government.
Subsequently, the Office of the President of Ukraine responded to Madyar's proposal to meet with the President of Ukraine, noting that bilateral meetings are arranged through bilateral channels.
