Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met for the first time on the margins of the European Council, a symbolic step in a broader effort to reset relations between the two neighbours. The encounter, long in the making, came after weeks of diplomatic groundwork and signals from both capitals that they were ready to move past years of friction.
Under Magyar's predecessor, Viktor Orbán, Budapest had cast Ukraine as a security liability and openly campaigned against its EU accession. That posture strained ties with Kyiv and irritated other European partners. Magyar, who took office after his Tisza Party's electoral victory, has promised a more pragmatic line, but his government has also made clear that Ukrainian commitments on minority rights remain a condition for further progress on the EU path.
On Monday, Ukraine's parliament passed a new law on minority education, which President Zelenskyy signed into law the same day. The following day, the EU opened negotiations on two additional accession clusters after Hungary withdrew its objections, bringing the total to four of six. The timing was not coincidental: Budapest had linked its support to the adoption of the legislation.
Speaking after the meeting, Magyar described the law as a first step toward restoring mutual trust. "As a first step towards restoring mutual trust, we assessed that the Parliament of Ukraine adopted the law on minority education based on the agreement, and that the Ukrainian side immediately began its implementation," he said in a social media post. He also expressed solidarity with Ukraine in its war against Russia, which has now lasted nearly five years.
Further talks planned
Both sides signalled that the meeting was only the beginning. Magyar said he and Zelenskyy could meet again in the autumn in Berehove, a town in western Ukraine that is home to a significant Hungarian-speaking community. The choice of location is deliberate: Berehove is a symbol of the minority issue that has long complicated bilateral ties.
There is also the possibility of a Zelenskyy visit to Budapest next week, when Hungary marks the 70th anniversary of the 1956 revolution. Ihor Zhovkva, the Ukrainian president's deputy chief of staff, confirmed in an interview with Euronews that an invitation had been extended. "We have received an invitation. On 23 October, an event will be held to mark the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution," Zhovkva said. "The President of Ukraine has received an invitation to attend. We shall see."
The thaw comes at a delicate moment for European unity on Ukraine. While Brussels has largely closed ranks behind Kyiv, some political forces in Europe are questioning continued support. The meeting between Magyar and Zelenskyy is a reminder that even previously sceptical governments can shift course, though the path to full normalisation remains long.
For Hungary, the reset is part of a broader effort by Magyar's government to repair ties with the EU after years of disputes over rule-of-law and democratic standards. Hungary's new leader seeks EU reset as part of that strategy. For Ukraine, the support of all 27 member states is crucial as it pushes for further accession steps and seeks European security guarantees amid wavering US support.
The next few weeks will show whether the momentum holds. A Zelenskyy visit to Budapest would be a powerful symbol, but the real test will be the implementation of the minority law and the pace of EU accession talks. Both sides have reasons to keep the dialogue going, but history suggests that trust between Budapest and Kyiv is not rebuilt overnight.
