Kyiv and Budapest have started discussions on the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, in a move that could ease long-standing tensions between the two countries.
The Hungarian ambassador said in a meeting last week that Budapest is now ready to engage with Ukraine to achieve concrete results, while the new government led by Peter Magyar has launched talks with Kyiv on how to address the sensitive issue of the Hungarian minority.
Under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary blocked the opening of Ukraine’s EU accession process in its first negotiation cluster, which covers key reforms including rule of law and financial oversight.
Budapest and Kyiv have long been at odds over the large Hungarian community living in Ukraine’s western Transcarpathia region. The issue remains politically sensitive in Hungary, even after Magyar’s electoral victory ended Orbán’s 16-year rule.
The previous Hungarian government had prepared an 11-point plan aimed at restoring rights for ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, which Budapest still considers important for opening key EU accession chapters.
A first sign of possible improvement in relations appeared during a meeting of EU ambassadors, where the Hungarian diplomat said Budapest is now ready to engage on the issue and emphasized a merit-based approach, with particular attention to minority rights and legal frameworks.
Magyar said on April 28 that he wants to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in early June to help “improve the situation” of ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine, proposing Berehove in Transcarpathia as the meeting location.
Zelenskyy had previously met representatives of the Hungarian community on April 9, just days before Hungary’s elections.
The European Union has made it a key requirement for Ukraine to adopt and implement a comprehensive action plan on minority rights, covering not only Hungarians but also Romanians, Poles, and Bulgarians.
In March, Ukraine introduced a national day to celebrate the Romanian language as part of broader efforts to improve relations with Bucharest.
The issue of Ukraine’s EU accession is expected to be discussed at the next European Council meeting, though further progress depends on whether Hungary’s veto on opening negotiations can be lifted.
