Hungary and Ukraine Ministers Hold ‘Frank’ Talks Amid Strains with Russia

BUDAPEST – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed that he had a "very frank one-on-one conversation" with his Hungarian counterpart on Monday, addressing the strains created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Hungary has faced criticism from its NATO and European Union allies for maintaining strong economic ties with Russia, as well as for not joining other Western nations in providing military assistance to Ukraine.

In response to these tensions, Kyiv halted the flow of oil from Russia’s Lukoil to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia in June, prompting Hungary’s MOL to renegotiate supply routes through Belarus and Ukraine.

At a joint press conference, Sybiha acknowledged Budapest’s support for EU sanctions against Russia, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to fostering pragmatic and stable neighborly relations. However, after Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated that Budapest would support any peace initiative regarding Ukraine, Sybiha pointedly expressed hope that Hungary would continue to back "Ukrainian initiatives," which pertain to proposals from Kyiv that dismiss any Russian territorial claims.

Szijjarto responded by indicating that Hungary would prefer Ukraine to avoid unilateral actions that might impact its energy supply again, although he assured that there were no plans to limit gas flows or reduce extensive power exports to Ukraine. He also mentioned Hungary’s interest in participating in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Tensions also persist over Hungary’s claims of restrictions on the rights of approximately 150,000 ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine to use their native language. While Kyiv rejects these allegations, Sybiha noted that both sides have observed a "positive dynamic in resolving this issue."