Prime Minister Viktor Orbán traveled to Kyiv early Tuesday morning. There he asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire. The host promised to resolve the disputes between the neighboring countries through a bilateral agreement.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán travelled to Kyiv on Tuesday, after Hungary took over the EU Council Presidency the day before. At the joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Orbán thanked for the invitation, which had been agreed at the EU summit in Brussels last Thursday. “My first trip under the banner of the Council Presidency took me to Kyiv, because the issue of peace is so important not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe.”
Reverse the logic
The war that Ukrainians are enduring has a profound impact on European security. Orbán praised every peace initiative put forward by the President of Ukraine, but agreed with Zelensky that this process requires a lot of patience.
“The rules of international diplomacy are lengthy and complicated. I have asked the President to consider whether the order could be reversed in order to speed up peace negotiations with a quick, temporary ceasefire,” Orbán said. He was grateful to his host for the open and honest answers. Hungary will help Ukraine as best it can during its Council Presidency.
Yes to Ukrainian schools in Hungary
Regarding bilateral relations, the Prime Minister said it was high time for this meeting at the highest level. “We are trying to put the disputes of the past behind us and focus on the next tasks,” said Orbán, who described the negotiations on neighbourly issues as constructive. Hungary wants to conclude a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Ukraine, modeled on such agreements with other neighbouring countries.
On the issue of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, he said vaguely that he saw opportunities for possible progress. Orbán responded approvingly to the president’s suggestion to set up a Ukrainian school in Hungary. “The Hungarian state would be happy to finance such a project! We will build as many schools as are needed. If there are to be ten, then we will build ten schools.”
As is well known, there has historically been a Ukrainian nationality in Hungary, which is represented by its own national administration. However, due to the flow of refugees, there are currently far more Ukrainians on Hungarian territory, which justifies the creation of its own educational institutions. Hungary already offers these families work, a livelihood and security, as well as schools for their children, “because it is important to us that Ukrainians feel at home here.”
Selenskyj sees common European priorities
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that they wanted to resolve the disputes between Ukraine and Hungary through a comprehensive bilateral agreement. “Everything we discussed today will serve as the basis for a future bilateral document between our states that will regulate all segments of our relations and will be of mutual benefit,” said the Ukrainian president.
This agreement will enable Ukraine to enjoy all the benefits of European unity. The fact that the Hungarian Prime Minister’s first trip after taking over the EU Council Presidency took him to Kyiv “demonstrates our common European priorities.”
Thanks to Hungary for humanitarian aid
Zelensky thanked Hungary for its humanitarian support, as protecting human life is of paramount importance. He also stressed that Hungary is ready to help create an efficient and long-term security architecture for the region and the whole of Europe.
“We discussed in detail how Hungary can participate in the organization of a second global peace conference, which we hope will take place this year.” Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine would have to prepare for a lengthy EU accession process, and that the dynamics of this process were important to him.
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