Ukraine moves toward Zelenskyy–Magyar talks in diplomatic reset
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (president.gov.ua)
Kyiv has signaled to Budapest the possibility of contacts between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leader of the Hungarian Tisza Party, Péter Magyar, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
"We believe we received the right European news from this country, which opens up new opportunities for us and gives us a chance to begin a new, good-neighbourly chapter in our mutual history. The people deserve such open relations," he notes.
Sybiha emphasizes that Ukraine has already signaled its willingness to engage in relevant contacts at the level of the Ukrainian president and Tisza leader Péter Magyar.
"We expect this contact and are of course interested. We are waiting for a response," the Minister says.
What issues need to be resolved
According to Sybiha, Ukraine and Hungary must resolve a wide range of issues, from border infrastructure to cooperation on the European track.
"Speaking broadly - this means lifting Hungary’s block as a country on the path to our EU membership. This also covers the 20th sanctions package, the EUR 90 billion loan and the formal opening of clusters," the Foreign Minister explains.
He also noted that Kyiv is ready to implement the highest standards of the European Council and the EU regarding national minorities.
Magyar's victory
Magyar's party, Tisza, won a decisive victory in the parliamentary elections on April 12, 138 out of 199 seats in parliament. Voter turnout was nearly 80%, a record for Hungary since the collapse of the socialist bloc.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat. Even open support from the White House and the Kremlin did not help his cause.
Péter Magyar is a lawyer and former ally of Orbán who finally broke with the Fidesz party in 2024 over a scandal involving presidential pardons.
He positions himself as a pro-European politician, but takes a cautious stance on Kyiv: he recognizes Russia as an aggressor, yet opposes arms supplies and Ukraine's accelerated accession to the EU and NATO.
In his first address following his victory, Magyar demanded the resignation of President Tamás Sulyok, as well as all of Orbán's appointees in key positions.
