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Ukraine Offers Hungary a Package of Proposals to Reset Bilateral Relations Following Historic Elections
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Ukraine has prepared a comprehensive package of proposals to negotiate with Budapest in an effort to repair bilateral relations following Hungary’s recent historic elections, Ukrinform reported on May 11.
Speaking before a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Kyiv is eager to resolve past diplomatic grievances.
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“We have a package of proposals and are ready to discuss them with our Hungarian partners in order to remove from the agenda the issue that spoiled and poisoned our bilateral relations,” Sybiha stated. “I am convinced that we have these realistic proposals on our part. We are interested in establishing a bilateral dialogue both at the level of the heads of relevant departments and, of course, at the level of leaders.”
The diplomatic opening follows a major shift in Hungarian politics that has injected new dynamic momentum into Ukraine’s path toward full EU membership, according to Ukrinform.
“First, the 90-billion loan was unblocked,” Sybiha noted, highlighting that the European funds are critical for Ukraine’s defense and economic survival. “This is extremely important for our macro-financial stability in Ukraine, as well as for our defense capabilities, because these funds will be directed to the purchase and production of drones, as well as preparation for winter.”
“We have already stated this publicly on several occasions and conveyed the appropriate signals through appropriate channels to our Hungarian partners: we are open to a new page in bilateral relations,” he continued.
Looking ahead to further European integration, the foreign minister stressed that Ukraine expects to advance its EU accession negotiations immediately, Ukrinform reported. Sybiha indicated that the opening of the first negotiation cluster—and subsequently five others—would be the primary focus of his meetings with European colleagues.
“Ukraine is committed to reforms, and we will continue on this path,” Sybiha said. “But it is very important that Europe also notices this, and there are appropriate assessments, and the best assessment is the opening of the clusters.”
The diplomatic overtures from Kyiv follow a political change in Budapest, where the Tisza Party government has vowed to abandon the combative foreign policy of the past 16 years. During a parliamentary hearing, future Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán had promised that Budapest would no longer use its EU veto as an instrument of political blackmail.
While this cooperative shift effectively allowed the European Union to move forward with the €90 billion ($97 billion) defense loan for Ukraine, Anita Orbán confirmed that Hungary will maintain its specific financial exemption from the package.
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