Ukraine, Hungary Hold Online Talks to Reset Ties

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Kyiv: Ukraine and Hungary conducted online meetings at the level of foreign ministers on Wednesday in an attempt to mend ties strained by years of disputes over minority rights and Kyiv's ambitions to join the EU.

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the major subjects of discussion were bilateral cooperation, Ukraine's EU membership process, and the rights of the Hungarian minority living in western Ukraine. He described the discussion as an attempt to begin a ‘new, mutually beneficial chapter’ between the neighbouring countries.

Hungary's foreign minister, Anita Orbán, said that the talks might pave the way for a ‘new process’ based on professional communication and legal protections and that substantial progress on minority rights would be required to broaden relations.

Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have been deteriorated in recent years, due to conflicts over the treatment of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine's Transcarpathia region and Budapest's constant opposition to some EU support measures for Kyiv.

The negotiations follow the election of Hungary's new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, who has shown a softer approach to Ukraine. Magyar has stated that he may meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June if existing negotiations on minority rights proceed successfully.