Ukrainian foreign minister shares details on consultations on national minorities issue between Ukraine and Hungary

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha has reported that Kyiv and the new authorities in Budapest began consultations on the rights of the Hungarian minority, with the participation of the foreign ministers and Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, on 20 May.

Sybiha stated on X that together with his Hungarian counterpart Anita Orbán and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka, they opened expert-level consultations between Kyiv and Budapest on minority rights.

In his opening remarks, the minister stressed Ukraine's desire to open a new chapter in relations with Hungary, one that would be mutually beneficial and based on trust. He expressed gratitude for Hungary's condemnation of recent Russian strikes, including on Zakarpattia.

"Ukraine takes national minority rights seriously and remains committed to ensuring them in accordance with European standards. We understand that this issue has a fundamental importance," Sybiha stated.

He also stressed that Ukraine's accession to the EU is in Hungary's strategic interests and will be an opportunity both to strengthen national unity and to ensure the protection of Hungarian minority rights.

"I emphasised that it is time to build a solid foundation to open the first EU negotiation cluster this May, and five more in June. With my Hungarian counterpart, we share the same goal: to seize this momentum and deliver tangible results," the minister wrote.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos welcomed the engagement between Kyiv and the new authorities in Budapest on the Hungarian minority rights issue.

Media reports indicate that new Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar wants the Hungarian minority in Ukraine to be granted more rights before he approves the official start of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations.