Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has declared himself ready to meet with the Ukrainian president. Volodymyr Zelensky as early as next week, paving the way for a possible rapprochement between Budapest and Kyiv after years of tensions under the government of his predecessor, Viktor Orban.
During a visit to Berlin on Tuesday, Peter Magyar indicated that this meeting could take place if the technical negotiations concerning the rights of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine are successful in the coming days. The Hungarian Prime Minister expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement quickly.
"The discussions are progressing very encouragingly," he said at a press conference alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He added that resolving this issue would open a new chapter in relations between the two neighboring countries.
The warming of relations between Hungary and Ukraine is of particular importance to the European Union. Under Viktor Orban, Budapest had regularly opposed financial aid to Kyiv and the continuation of Ukraine's EU accession process, complicating European efforts to support the country in the face of the Russian invasion.
Since his electoral victory in April, Peter Magyar has sought to bring his country closer to its European partners. His government notably secured the release of €16,4 billion in European recovery and cohesion funds that had been frozen under the previous administration, promising to continue reforms aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption.
The Hungarian leader's visit to Berlin marks the start of a European tour that will also take him to Paris. This move illustrates Budapest's desire to forge closer ties with the major capitals of the European Union while redefining its foreign policy following Viktor Orban's departure.
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