The Prime Minister of Hungary, Peter Madjar, will agree to a personal meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, only if Ukraine fulfills Budapest’s demands regarding the expansion of the rights of the Hungarian national minority. This was reported by the spokesperson of Madjar’s office.
This is reported by Finway
“A personal meeting between Peter Madjar and Volodymyr Zelensky is possible if Ukraine meets the Hungarian side’s demands regarding the resolution of the situation with the Hungarian minority in Ukraine,” government representatives stated.
According to Hungarian government spokespersons, Kyiv must fulfill specific conditions related to guarantees of rights and freedoms for the Hungarian community in Ukraine before an official meeting between the leaders of the two countries can be scheduled. Over the past two weeks, the issue of a possible meeting between Peter Madjar and Volodymyr Zelensky has been raised multiple times by Budapest.
Meeting location and Hungarian side’s demands
The Prime Minister of Hungary indicated the city of Berehove in Transcarpathia as a potential location for a possible meeting with the Ukrainian president. It is noted that Transcarpathia, where the Hungarian community resides compactly, is considered a symbolic location for negotiations.
On May 21, Peter Madjar commented on his attitude towards Ukraine, which is resisting Russian aggression, emphasizing the heroism of the Ukrainian people. At the same time, he stressed that, in his opinion, the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia “does not have human rights.” Madjar raised the issue of autonomy, language, and culture for Hungarians, and also reminded of the 11 demands that, according to him, Kyiv must fulfill to resolve the situation.
Ukraine’s response to Hungary’s demands
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, voiced Ukraine’s official position regarding the Hungarian side’s demands. According to him, Kyiv is ready for constructive dialogue with the new government of Hungary on all issues, including those concerning national minorities. Ukraine expresses its openness to cooperation and emphasizes the importance of respecting the rights of all national communities on its territory.