Zelensky, Hungary's Magyar hold first 'one-on-one' talks at EU summit
"We see the Ukrainian parliament's adoption of the minority education law and the immediate start of its implementation as a first step towards rebuilding mutual trust," Magyar said on X after the meeting.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar engaged in their first bilateral discussions during the EU summit in Brussels on October 16. The two nations, currently navigating strained relations with the U.S., aimed to establish a new foundation for their political and economic ties. The meeting took place as Zelensky signed a law granting educational rights to Ukraine's national minorities, a demand Hungary had previously insisted upon before proceeding with Ukraine's EU accession talks.
Magyar stated that this law marked a significant step towards rebuilding mutual trust between the countries. Both leaders agreed on the necessity of fostering new political and economic relations and expressed solidarity with Ukraine in response to Russia's aggression. Following Ukraine's adoption of the minorities bill, Hungary lifted its veto, allowing for the commencement of two additional negotiation clusters on October 13.
The law enables Ukraine's Hungarian-speaking minority and other EU-language minorities greater freedom to use their native languages in education. Approximately 80,000 ethnic Hungarians reside in Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast. Magyar expressed his hope to initiate a new chapter in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations, suggesting a potential follow-up meeting in Berehove, a town central to the Hungarian-speaking community in Ukraine.
The leaders had exchanged brief communications in June and July, further solidifying their commitment to dialogue.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
