Hungary declines to join Kyiv-led regional group

Ukraine and Hungary have long disagreed over the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine.(AFP) — Hungary said Tuesday it declined to join a regional cooperation initiative launched by neighboring Ukraine, a sign of lingering tensions following the departure of Viktor Orbán’s Russia-friendly government.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday opened the first Carpathian Summit in western Ukraine, saying representatives from seven countries in the region participated, including Hungary.But the Central European country’s Foreign Ministry denied that Hungary had joined the grouping, which Zelenskyy has said is focused on economic cooperation and security.“Hungary is not a member of the Carpathian Eight regional cooperation initiative launched by President Zelenskyy, but is closely monitoring its establishment and further development,” the ministry said in a statement sent to AFP.“On the Hungarian side, the event was observed on site by Adam Cegledi, acting charge d’affaires at the embassy in Kyiv. Hungary did not sign the declaration adopted at the forum,” the ministry added.Kyiv and Budapest have been trying for months to improve ties after Hungary’s pro-EU Prime Minister Peter Magyar took office in May.He succeeded Kremlin-friendly nationalist Orbán, whose government frequently clashed with neighboring Ukraine.Magyar’s government has not publicly stated a reason for staying out of the group.Ukraine and Hungary have long disagreed over the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine.The countries reached a deal on that issue in June, prompting Budapest to stop blocking the start of EU membership negotiations with Kyiv.But Hungary has since blocked progress on accession talks, accusing Ukraine of failing to implement the agreement.Regarding the Carpathian group gathering, Magyar told parliament: “We were invited, but we didn’t go, and for good reason.”Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was “surprised by the Hungarian prime minister’s unnecessarily confrontational statements toward Ukraine” in a post on X.“The reasons for such a categorical rejection on Hungary’s part remain unknown,” he added.“It seems that while Viktor Orbán is gone, his policies of obstructionism and isolationism continue to thrive.”A senior politician from Hungary’s ruling party, Marton Hajdu, responded on X that Hungary has “done a lot of heavy lifting already” to improve relations and “now it’s time for Ukraine to deliver.”Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads