President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar agreed to normalize relations in Brussels on Friday, Oct. 16, ending months of tensions that have stalled Ukraine’s EU bid, bolstering Kyiv’s goal of opening all remaining accession clusters by year-end.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry described the meeting as historic, saying it marked an important step toward restoring ties between Kyiv and Budapest after years of friction over the rights of Ukraine’s Hungarian minority.
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“Today, we have truly opened a new chapter. This is a reset across all tracks: political, economic, humanitarian and others,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
The leaders met on the sidelines of the European Council summit after a breakthrough over minority education rights helped unblock part of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.
Trade, borders and business ties
According to the ministry, bilateral cooperation will focus on trade and economic ties, border infrastructure, business contacts and people-to-people engagement.
After the leaders’ talks, Sybiha met his Hungarian counterpart, Anita Orbán, to coordinate the implementation of the agreements.
“This is how quiet and effective diplomacy works – in the interest of the nation, not headlines,” Sybiha said.
Magyar, for his part, expressed solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s aggression and offered diplomatic support for efforts to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace, Reuters reported, citing his Facebook statement after the meeting.
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The reset comes ahead of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against Soviet rule.
Minority education law helps unblock EU talks
Ukraine’s parliament adopted the education amendments on Oct. 12, and Zelensky signed them into law that day. The legislation expands education rights for national minorities whose languages are official EU languages and introduces a special status for qualifying minority-language schools.
The rights of Ukraine’s ethnic Hungarian community, concentrated in the southwestern Zakarpattia region, have long been a source of tension with Budapest. Both Magyar’s government and its predecessor, led by Viktor Orbán, linked progress in Ukraine’s accession negotiations to minority-rights concerns.
After the law’s adoption, Hungary dropped its objections to opening Cluster 2, covering the internal market, and Cluster 3, covering competitiveness and inclusive growth. Negotiations on both opened on Oct. 13, bringing the total opened to four of the six clusters.
So far, Ukraine and Moldova opened Cluster 1 – Fundamentals on June 15, and Cluster 6 – External Relations on July 14. Ukraine aims to open Cluster 4, on the green agenda and sustainable connectivity, and Cluster 5, on resources, agriculture and cohesion – before the end of 2026.
Magyar described the law and the start of its implementation as a step toward restoring mutual trust. He said discussions would continue at ministerial level.
The move comes just a day after the EU officials removed ‘urgency’ language from their draft summit conclusions on opening Ukraine’s and Moldova’s remaining negotiating clusters on Oct. 15, softening the timeline on the accession.
The updated draft keeps the expectation that the clusters will be opened under the merit-based approach but no longer includes any reference to timing.
Further meetings under consideration
Further talks could take place in Berehove, a center of Ukraine’s Hungarian community, Magyar said, according to Euronews.
Zelensky has also received an invitation to Budapest for the Oct. 23 commemoration of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, deputy presidential chief of staff Ihor Zhovkva told Euronews. He said the president was considering attending; a visit has not been confirmed.
The Brussels summit comes as Zelensky seeks European support amid continuing Russian attacks and tensions with Washington over restrictions on military satellite communications and US policy toward Russian energy exports.