Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has cast doubt on whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to Budapest later this month, even though an invitation was extended for the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
In an interview with the Hungarian news site 444.hu published on Saturday, Magyar said he considered a visit by the Ukrainian leader unlikely. More than 100 foreign dignitaries have been invited to the state ceremonies scheduled for 23 October, but Russian President Vladimir Putin was not among them.
The comments come just days after Magyar and Zelenskyy held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels on Friday. Both leaders indicated they could meet again before the end of the year.
Possible meeting locations
Magyar outlined two possible scenarios for a future encounter. "Either I will travel to Kyiv and from there we will go together to Beregszász, or the president will come to Budapest and from there we will go to Beregszász," he said, referring to the Hungarian-majority town in western Ukraine known as Berehove in Ukrainian.
Following their Brussels talks, Magyar wrote on X that he had expressed his "full solidarity" with Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia's full-scale invasion. He added that the two leaders agreed to "continue talks at ministerial level, with a special focus on improving the situation of minorities in both countries" and that they believed it was "in both countries’ interests to build a new foundation for our political and economic relations."
Zelenskyy's deputy chief of staff had told Euronews earlier this week that the Ukrainian president had been invited to Budapest for the 23 October commemorations, part of a broader effort to reset relations between Kyiv and Budapest after years of diplomatic friction that repeatedly hampered Ukraine's progress toward EU membership.
The potential visit would mark a significant step in the thaw between the two neighbours. Hungary has long been seen as one of the most Kremlin-friendly voices within the EU, and its government has frequently blocked or delayed EU decisions on Ukraine, including financial aid packages and sanctions against Russia.
Magyar, who took office after his party's victory in the 2022 elections, has sought to reposition Hungary more firmly within the European mainstream. His meeting with Zelenskyy in Brussels was widely interpreted as a signal that Budapest is willing to move beyond the confrontational stance of his predecessor, Viktor Orbán.
Analysts note that the issue of minority rights remains a sensitive point. Hungary has repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, particularly regarding language and education rights. Kyiv, for its part, has pushed back against what it sees as interference in its internal affairs.
Despite the positive tone of the Brussels meeting, the practical obstacles to a Zelenskyy visit are considerable. Security concerns, scheduling conflicts, and the ongoing war all complicate any presidential travel. Magyar's public scepticism suggests that, while the diplomatic ice is melting, a full breakthrough may still be some way off.
The 23 October anniversary is a major date in Hungary's calendar, commemorating the 1956 uprising against Soviet domination. For Ukraine, which is fighting its own battle against Russian aggression, the symbolism of a presidential visit would not be lost.
As the two countries continue their cautious rapprochement, the coming weeks will show whether the invitation is accepted or whether the leaders will instead meet on Ukrainian soil, as Magyar suggested.
