Hungarian PM Magyar hopes that meeting with Zelenskyy in Brussels will help ‘open new chapter’ in relations

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar is optimistic that a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, set to take place in Brussels on Friday, will usher in a new era for their bilateral relations. However, he does not foresee Ukraine joining the European Union in the near future, given that the entire accession process could span 15 to 20 years.

During a briefing for journalists in Brussels on Thursday, Magyar emphasized that his expectations for Ukraine's EU membership are rooted in merit-based negotiations. He cautioned against expecting a specific date for Ukraine's accession to the EU, citing the Western Balkan nations' long-standing efforts for EU membership without significant progress.

Magyar believes in genuine, merit-based membership, rejecting notions of enhanced or parallel membership. He drew parallels with Turkey's accession journey, noting that even after decades of negotiations, Turkey's interest in EU membership has waned. Magyar's emphasis on the historic achievements of Hungary in advancing the rights of the Hungarian minority in the Carpathian region suggests that the meeting with Zelenskyy could yield tangible benefits for Hungary's Hungarian-speaking minority in Berehove, where a Hungarian-speaking majority resides.