Hungary & Ukraine make historic deal after years of tension

Hungary and Ukraine Reach Agreement on Minority Rights, Unblocking EU Accession Talks

Hungary and Ukraine have reached an agreement on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine, a move that allows the opening of the first cluster of negotiations in Ukraine's European Union accession talks. The deal, announced by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, ends a long-running dispute that had strained relations between the two countries and complicated Hungary's support for Ukraine's EU ambitions.

The agreement, reached on June 3 between diplomats from the two countries, will improve educational, linguistic, cultural, and political rights for the more than 100,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine's western Transcarpathia region. Under the deal, Ukraine will enable the use of minority languages in public administration, allowing their use in public institutions where a minority constitutes over 10% of the local population.

Magyar, who succeeded Viktor Orban after April's election, described the agreement as "historic," noting that his government achieved in three weeks what Orban's administration failed to accomplish in ten years. Ukraine has agreed to implement the changes in law and incorporate them into its minority action plan submitted to the EU as part of its accession process.

The agreement has direct implications for Ukraine's EU accession bid. The EU has now said it will move Ukraine, along with Moldova, to the next stage in their membership bids, with the first cluster of negotiations addressing fundamental rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Hungary's new Foreign Minister Anita Orban stated that the agreement was confirmed and included in the action plan for the protection of minority rights as part of Ukraine's EU accession.

Hungary has made clear that compliance is mandatory. Foreign Minister Orban warned that negotiations with Ukraine on joining the EU would be halted if it does not comply with the agreement. This means that if Ukraine fails to meet its obligations, the accession process within individual clusters would automatically be put on hold. Hungary supports Ukraine's EU accession based on the results of reforms, applying the same requirements imposed on all candidates.

Prime Minister Magyar has also expressed hope to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon to finalize the agreement at a political level. He suggested the meeting take place in Beregovo, a town in Transcarpathia with a Hungarian majority. Magyar added that the agreement is still being worked on at the expert level and needs to be finalized politically.

The dispute over minority rights had been a significant obstacle in Hungary-Ukraine relations. Orban's government had been demanding that Kyiv restore the rights of the Hungarian minority, warning that it would block Ukraine's EU accession. Since 2015, ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia had been deprived of their rights, including the use of their native language in culture and education.

While Magyar has criticized Orban's anti-Ukrainian rhetoric as lies and diversionary tactics, he has also ruled out providing military aid to Kyiv. He has, however, criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The agreement marks a potential turning point in Ukraine's EU accession bid, which has been a priority for Kyiv partly to bolster its security as it fights against the full-scale Russian invasion launched in 2022.