Ukraine's path to EU runs through this small Hungarian community in Carpathians
Hungary has blocked Ukraine's EU path before. This time, Budapest may genuinely want to find a way through.
Soon after taking office, Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar appeared ready to normalize bilateral relations with Ukraine.
Soon, however, the newly elected prime minister played his predecessor's tune, declaring that the Hungarian minority in Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast "lacks basic rights," and complaining that its linguistic and cultural freedoms are being curtailed.
Magyar signaled he would obstruct the launch of Ukraine's formal EU accession talks until the issue is resolved — potentially blocking the process Kyiv hoped to restart after the ousting of Hungary's ex-Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The Kyiv Independent explains why Magyar's comments are intended for a domestic audience and what his government actually wants from Ukraine.
Soon after taking office, Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar appeared ready to normalize bilateral relations with Ukraine.
Soon, however, the newly elected prime minister played his predecessor's tune, declaring that the Hungarian minority in Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast "lacks basic rights," and complaining that its linguistic and cultural freedoms are being curtailed.
Magyar signaled he would obstruct the launch of Ukraine's formal EU accession talks until the issue is resolved — potentially blocking the process Kyiv hoped to restart after the ousting of Hungary's ex-Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The Kyiv Independent explains why Magyar's comments are intended for a domestic audience and what his government actually wants from Ukraine.
