State Secretary: New kind of dynamism and mentality in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations
State Secretary Levente Magyar said he sensed a 'new kind of dynamism and mentality' in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations, which would provide a basis for Ukraine to offer an 'acceptable solution' when it comes to the ethnic Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia 'in the coming weeks and months'.
'I see hope for reaching an agreement in the foreseeable future, which could also fundamentally reshape the Hungarian position on Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration,' Magyar told a joint press conference with Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's deputy prime minister responsible for European integration, in Budapest.
According to MTI, Magyar noted that Hungarian-Ukrainian ties have been strained by the legal situation of Transcarpathian Hungarians since the mid-2010s. So far, he said, there has been no solution that could fully settle the issues around ethnic Hungarians' right to the use of their mother tongue in education, community life and public administration.
'Today we agreed to intensify the work, with the two expert delegations meeting in mid-May,' Magyar said.
Stefanishyna said Ukraine took seriously all of its obligations that brought the country closer to Euro-Atlantic integration, which, she said, included the protection of minority rights and fostering good neighbourly relations. She said Ukraine valued 'what Hungary offers us in our bilateral ties', including providing temporary protection to those fleeing the war.
She said several issues related to education and minorities needed to be resolved, adding that the two countries had successfully drafted a plan to settle all of the 11 issues raised by Hungary.
The deputy prime minister said Ukraine was 'open and honest' in meeting its obligations, adding that they also saw that Budapest, too, supported 'real dialogue'. She said Ukraine's European integration process had contributed significantly to its changes to its policies concerning national minorities, adding that the country had also taken steps to solidify the Ukrainian language as the state language. Ukraine, she said, had established the institutional system needed for dialogue with national minorities and was drafting regulation to give minorities access to education in their mother tongues.
Stefanishyna said in response to a question by MTI that Ukrainian-Hungarian consultations are set to continue in Uzhhorod (Ungvar) on May 12, adding that Ukraine will hand over its proposals regarding Hungary's 11-point package today.
In response to a question, Magyar said the Hungarian government had a moral and legal obligation to take action against 'the measures curbing the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians that were implemented in Ukraine after 2015'.
'We've achieved some smaller results in recent years, but we cannot declare that it is completely safe for Hungarians in Ukraine to freely use their mother tongue at all the forums where they could in the past,' the state secretary said. He said the latest round of talks showed that the two countries could reach a point where Ukraine fully guaranteed these rights.
Asked about the government's billboard campaign, Magyar said Stefanishyna had raised the issue.
He said the Hungarian government's mandate and measures would be determined by whether Hungarians supported Ukraine's European Union accession in the ongoing referendum. He added that any welcome changes in the status of Transcarpathian Hungarians would not change the fact that by admitting Ukraine to the bloc by 2030, the EU and Hungary would be 'taking on an unbearable economic burden' that would 'fundamentally rewrite the EU's internal relations'.
Magyar said that Hungary was aiding Ukraine, which he said 'has been in a life-and-death struggle for more than three years', in a number of ways, adding that the two countries had made progress in several areas. He noted a new border crossing point opened two weeks ago and direct train links between Budapest and Kyiv.
'Hungary stands up for the people of Ukraine who are suffering, regardless of the current state of political relations,' he said.
He noted that Ukrainian refugee children can study in Ukrainian at two schools in Hungary, and that the Hungarian government will inaugurate a rebuilt school in Kyiv Oblast. Hungary is also treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers, offers scholarships to Ukrainians and has hosted summer camps for more than 13,000 Ukrainian children affected by the war, Magyar said, adding that Hungary is currently Ukraine's largest electricity supplier.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Budapest Times
2 hours ago
- Budapest Times
Orbán: EU itself is only obstacle to Montenegro's accession to bloc
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Montenegro is 'a key country' for Hungary, adding that the European Union itself was 'the only obstacle' to the country's accession to the bloc. Hungary continues to support Montenegro's EU bid, PM Orbán said after meeting his Montenegrin counterpart, Milojko Spajic, during a working visit to Budapest, where the two sides signed agreements in the areas of infrastructure development, telecommunications and IT. PM Orbán said Montenegro has been waiting to join the EU for 15 years, even though 'it meets all accession criteria', adding that Montenegro was in a pivotal position in the Balkans and key to the region's stability. 'What happens in the south is crucial for Hungary,' PM Orbán said, adding that Montenegro was 'almost a southern neighbour', and 'a strategic partner' thanks to new agreements. 'Considering the railways and motorways to be built, it is clear that infrastructure development will be in the focus of cooperation between the two countries in future,' he added. He said Hungarian foreign policy was 'pragmatic' and directed towards establishing friendships, especially in the region. PM Orbán said, although Hungary had always looked West in light of belonging to NATO and the EU, it 'shouldn't disregard other geographical directions'. Montenegro's geographical position, rather than its size, put it in a key position in terms of stabilising the Balkans and ensuring north-south trade and economic cooperation, he said. Hungarian trade must reach the sea not only towards Trieste but also through Serbia to Montenegro, he added. Economic ties, he said, were expanding fast, noting turnover last year of almost 100 million euros. Hungarian multinationals are already present in Montenegro, he added. 'The joint outlook that binds us is the European Union,' PM Orbán said. Hungary, he said, backed Montenegro's EU aspirations, noting that despite fulfilling 'every single condition for membership long ago', the country has been waiting 15 years to become a member of the bloc. 'This is a country with a Western culture, it's familiar with European culture and regulations and maintains active relations with the West', he said, adding that Montenegro could close any negotiation chapter 'at record speed,' but this depended on the EU. Montenegro 'enjoys great sympathy' among EU member states, the prime minister said. 'But at the same time everyone accepts, for some baffling reason, that here's a country we need … and it wants to join despite seeing all the troubles of the EU, and instead of accepting this, we prefer to slow it down and postpone it,' he said. 'This is not a reasonable attitude,' he added, saying that Hungary continues to support Montenegro's accession. Spajic said Montenegro also saw Hungary as 'almost a neighboring country' and one with which it had long wanted to deepen cooperation. He thanked Hungary for its support for its accession process, saying it felt like help came from Budapest 'on a daily basis'. Results of the newly signed agreements were important for bilateral ties and would be palpable in the coming months and years, he added. Without good public and rail infrastructure, it was impossible to realise tourism and economic projects, Spajic said. Infrastructure development 'is a priority for us', welcoming the fact that 'Hungary is partner in this area'.
Budapest Times
2 hours ago
- Budapest Times
Menczer: Zelensky wants different Hungarian government while Brussels prepares ‘secret service actions against Hungary'
Tamás Menczer, the Fidesz-Christian Democrat parties' communications director, said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants a different Hungarian government, while Brussels is preparing 'secret service actions against Hungary'. Brussels, he added, was piqued because Hungary 'said no to Ukraine's EU membership and does not support pro-Ukrainian and pro-war policies'. Referring to European People's Party head Manfred Weber and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he said 'Weber and von der Leyen have sent a clear message.' The Fidesz politician added: 'Zelensky, too, has sent a message. He wants a change of government!' He said Zelensky wanted 'a puppet government' headed by Peter Magyar of the Tisza Party, because they supported Ukraine's EU accession bid. 'Weber, von der Leyen and Zelensky, together, want to topple the sovereigntist Orban government. Viktor Orban is in their way because the Hungarian prime minister does not bow to the will of Brussels and Ukraine,' he said. 'Instead, he protects Hungarian interests.' Fully 2.2 million people in the Vote 2025 survey said Hungary came first, not Ukraine, he added. Menczer said he planned to release a video today that proved his statement about 'Weber and Zelensky's threats'.
Budapest Times
2 hours ago
- Budapest Times
MEP: Tisza Party voted against Hungarian farmers' interests
Csaba Dömötör, an MEP of ruling Fidesz, told Hungarian journalists in Brussels on Tuesday that MEPs of the opposition Tisza Party have voted for a proposed European water strategy, adding that the strategy went against Hungarian farmers' interests. Dömötör said the Hungarian government has decided to continue last year's system under which farmers can use water from state-run providers to water their crops free of charge. 'But Tisza is against that measure,' the MEP said, adding that the European proposal 'is firmly against those countries where the full [service] cost is not reflected in the prices… This clearly concerns Hungary; if it is up to the Socialists and the European People's Party, there will be no irrigation at reduced prices.' Dömötör insisted that all MEPs of Tisza had voted for the European proposal. Tisza leader Peter Magyar 'also voted for it; he cannot deny it. All their names are in the minutes of the May 7 meeting,' he said.
