On September 30, on the instructions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiga will pay a working visit to Hungary. In Budapest, he will hold bilateral talks with the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Sijarto.
As informs the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, among the main issues of the meeting are the development of good-neighborly relations, the implementation of joint projects in the spheres of the economy, border infrastructure, as well as the protection of the rights of national minorities.
A separate discussion of Ukraine’s European integration course, its accession to NATO, and the peace formula as a basis for ending Russian aggression is planned. After the talks, the ministers will make statements to the press.
This visit is part of the regional tour of the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the purpose of which is to strengthen good-neighborly relations and promote Ukraine’s integration into the EU and NATO.
The context of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have soured since the 2017 passage of an education law in Ukraine that restricted the use of minority languages in middle and high school, leaving mother tongue instruction only in primary school. Hungary perceived this law as an attempt at assimilation and repeatedly blocked EU initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine.
In addition, Hungary refuses to provide military assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
