Meeting on the sidelines of the European Union summit in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar discussed bilateral relations and Ukraine’s EU accession process on Friday, Oct. 16. Diplomatic efforts to end the war were also on the agenda.
Zelensky thanked Magyar for the steps that allowed two more negotiating clusters to be opened for Ukraine’s EU membership. Kyiv expects the remaining clusters to be opened by the end of the year.
The meeting also addressed developing cooperation and trade between the two countries. Issues related to agricultural products were among the topics discussed.

Relations to be developed on a new basis
In a statement after the meeting, Magyar said he and Zelensky agreed that developing political and economic relations between Ukraine and Hungary on a new basis was in the interest of both countries.

The sides also agreed to continue bilateral consultations at the ministerial level and to pay special attention to improving the situation of national minorities.
Magyar said he welcomed the political agreement between Hungary and Ukraine on strengthening the rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia. The Hungarian prime minister also praised the Ukrainian parliament’s adoption of a law on the educational rights of national minorities.
Zelensky, for his part, said Ukraine had embraced an approach of good-neighborliness and mutual strengthening. The sides agreed to resume joint work at various levels and to hold mutual visits, with teams set to work on the dates.