Magyar: I am ready to meet with Zelenskyy and open a new chapter in relations between our two countries

(Patria) - Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar says he is ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week to open a new chapter in relations, after ousting his predecessor Viktor Orban, who was sympathetic to Moscow, in the elections.

During a visit to Berlin, Magyar said he is ready to meet with Zelenskyy if technical negotiations on the rights of the Hungarian minority in neighbouring Ukraine are concluded this week, and that he is optimistic about resolving the issue.

Warmer relations between Hungary and Ukraine are key to the European Union's support for Kyiv in the war in Ukraine, as Orban opposed sending billions of euros in aid to Ukraine and its EU membership.

- So far, the negotiations are progressing very encouragingly, and we hope they could be concluded at the technical level as early as this week - Magyar said about minority rights, speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

He added that he can reiterate in Berlin that he is ready to meet with the Ukrainian president at the beginning of next week, "provided that we truly reach an agreement on these fundamental human rights."

Magyar visited Berlin as part of a tour that will take him to Paris tomorrow, as his government seeks to build ties with other EU countries after strained relations during Orban's tenure.

Since taking office after the April elections, Magyar has secured an agreement to unlock 16.4 billion euros from EU cohesion and recovery funds that were frozen under Orban, promising to continue with anti-corruption reforms.

Magyar's election victory also paved the way for the inflow of 90 billion euros in EU funds to Ukraine. Orban opposed sending those funds due to a dispute over energy supply.

Although Magyar has a less confrontational approach towards Kyiv, he emphasises that progress on the rights of 150,000 ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine to use their mother tongue is necessary for Budapest to consent to Ukraine's EU accession.

In May, Merz launched an initiative to grant Ukraine the status of an "associate" EU member as a first step, which Zelenskyy deemed unfair because it would leave Kyiv without voting rights in the Union.

- We understand that Budapest wants to first clarify bilateral issues, such as the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. However, this must not come at the expense of European support, nor should it deter us from our goal of formally opening accession negotiations with Ukraine with the first chapter now - Merz said.

He welcomed a new beginning in relations under Magyar after Orban's sixteen-year rule, saying: "Democracy and the rule of law in Hungary are strong again. We trust him to lead Hungary back to the heart of Europe."

- Peter Magyar has proven that the pendulum does not only swing in one direction, towards illiberal or even authoritarian. It can also impressively swing back towards the centre - Merz emphasised.

Magyar visited Poland in May, followed by Austria. After visits to Germany and France, he will host the Irish Prime Minister in Budapest this week.