Ukraine and Hungary: Diplomatic Tensions amid European Integration and Minority Rights Negotiations
On Thursday, September 11th, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó convened for a high-stakes diplomatic meeting aimed at improving long-standing, yet tense, relations between the two countries.
The dialogue took place amidst a charged atmosphere: the Ukrainian official described it as “frank and constructive,” while the Hungarian diplomat laid the blame for the state of bilateral relations solely on Kyiv.
Kachka reported that the sides discussed the results of consultations concerning minority rights and reached agreements on all 11 issues previously raised by Budapest.
Particular attention was paid to energy cooperation and joint efforts to reduce the European Union’s dependence on Russian energy supplies.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó made strong statements regarding Kyiv’s stance, accusing Ukrainian authorities of “systematically restricting the rights of the Hungarian community in Zakarpattia” and urging Kyiv to “restore all minority rights.” He also sharply criticized recent attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, stating that these acts “do not harm Russia but undermine Hungary’s energy security.” Despite ongoing disagreements, Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary provides Ukraine with a significant portion of its electricity and gas imports, which remains a crucial element of bilateral relations.
Regarding Ukraine’s prospects for EU integration, Kachka stressed that political disagreements should not hinder the negotiation process with the EU, while Szijjártó reiterated that Hungary considers Ukraine’s EU accession contrary to its interests and prefers a strategic partnership instead.
He added that future relations between the two countries will largely depend on Kyiv’s decisions.
Previously, Szijjártó had stated that Ukraine’s NATO accession could trigger World War III, highlighting the sensitive and complex nature of current diplomatic engagement between Kyiv and Budapest.