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11 Points to Lift the Veto: New Hungarian Government Starts Talks With Ukraine
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The new Hungarian government has announced its readiness to engage in a dialogue with Ukraine regarding the country's accession to the European Union, according to Euronews on May 18.
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The Hungarian ambassador stated that Budapest is prepared for talks concerning Ukraine to achieve concrete results, as the new administration of Péter Magyar initiates technical negotiations with Kyiv on matters related to Hungarians living in Ukraine.
Under the leadership of Viktor Orbán, Hungary blocked the opening of Ukraine's EU accession process under the first reform package, which covers key reforms necessary for negotiations, including the rule of law and financial control.
The previous Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Orbán developed an 11-point plan aimed at restoring the rights of the Hungarian community in Ukraine. Budapest still considers the implementation of these measures essential for opening the first key stage in the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU.
The first concrete sign of improvement in relations between the two countries appeared during a discussion among EU ambassadors last Wednesday, when the Hungarian diplomat stated that Budapest is ready for dialogue on this matter. The ambassador also stated that a merit-based methodology should be followed and that Hungary will pay special attention to the rights and legal framework of the Hungarian minority.
Magyar stated on April 28 that he wants to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the beginning of June to help "improve the situation" of ethnic Hungarians in Western Ukraine. Magyar proposed holding the meeting in Berehove, a Ukrainian town in the Zakarpattia region considered the center of the local Hungarian ethnic community.
Zelenskyy met with the Hungarian community on April 9, three days before the elections in Hungary. The EU has put forward the adoption and effective implementation of an ambitious action plan on minorities, which in Ukraine includes not only Hungarians but also Romanians, Poles, and Bulgarians, as a key requirement for Kyiv.
In March, the Ukrainian government announced the introduction of a national day dedicated to the Romanian language as part of broader efforts to improve relations with Bucharest. This step by Kyiv was a response to Romania already celebrating the Day of the Ukrainian Language annually on November 9.
The issue of EU enlargement may be included on the agenda of the next European Council meeting, where a meeting between Magyar and Zelenskyy is also expected.
However, the office of European Council President Antonio Costa will include the issue of Ukraine's EU accession on the agenda only if concrete progress is announced by that time regarding the formal lifting of the Hungarian veto on opening accession talks.
Péter Magyar shared details of a telephone conversation with President Costa on Facebook, stating that Budapest has initiated technical consultations with the government of Ukraine to guarantee the linguistic, educational, and cultural rights of the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia.
"President Antonio Costa informed me that yesterday he made it clear to the President of Ukraine that any further steps must be preceded by respect for the rights of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine," Magyar said. If Ukraine implements the 11-point plan, and if representatives of the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia approve its outcomes, Hungary will likely support the opening of the first major chapter of negotiations with Ukraine.
However, one possible complication is that the Orbán government may have included a number of complex or politically sensitive demands within the 11 points, which sources describe as hidden pitfalls that could potentially complicate their full implementation.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is "working on all issues" concerning the Hungarian ethnic minority in western Ukraine, emphasizing that Hungarians are "our citizens, just like everyone else," and suggesting that he views the issue as resolvable rather than a serious obstacle. Budapest views these remarks as constructive.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Andrii Sybiha has already reported that Ukraine is ready to interact with the new Hungarian government on all issues, including national minorities, "with the aim of restoring trust and good-neighborly relations between our countries."
Earlier, the new Hungarian government decided to redirect the severance packages of Viktor Orbán's former cabinet members to an orphanage in Ukraine. Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that the total compensation fund, which reached nearly 1 billion forints ($3.22 million), would be transferred to the charity facility following the official handover of power.
The funding consisted of 350 million forints ($1.13 million) allocated for former ministers, combined with additional payouts designated for their deputies.
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