by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
PARIS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary suggested Wednesday it is prepared to lift its veto over Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union after an agreement was reached on the rights of ethnic Hungarians living in the war-torn nation.
In a video message from Paris, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said it was symbolic that he could announce the accord near the Palace of Versailles, where Hungary was forced under the 1920 Treaty of Trianon to give up two-thirds of its territory, including territories that are now part of Ukraine, leaving many ethnic Hungarians outside Hungary’s borders.
Magyar said the breakthrough followed several weeks of intensive negotiations between Hungarian and Ukrainian experts, representatives of the Hungarian community in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region, and church leaders.
The agreement marks a significant shift in Budapest’s policy toward Ukraine and could help remove one of the main obstacles to Kyiv’s long-sought European Union membership aspirations.
HUNGARY CHANGES COURSE
It also represents a reversal of the approach taken by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government repeatedly blocked progress in Ukraine’s EU accession process over concerns about the treatment of the Hungarian minority and broader disputes with Kyiv.
Magyar said Ukraine had agreed to expand the linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights of roughly 100,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Transcarpathia, though official estimates place the number of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine at more than 150,000.
Among the measures announced are the restoration of minority-language schools, expanded use of Hungarian in education and public life, and guarantees allowing Hungarian students to take graduation and university entrance examinations in their native language.
The agreement also foresees broader use of Hungarian in healthcare, public administration, political activities, sporting events, and scientific conferences in communities where ethnic Hungarians make up more than 10 percent of the population.
MINORITY RIGHTS DEAL
Magyar said Ukraine had committed itself to incorporating the agreed measures into its legal framework and action plan related to its European Union accession process.
“If this happens, the Hungarian government will contribute to the opening of the first accession cluster concerning Ukraine,” Magyar said.
The Hungarian leader stressed that support for opening the first cluster of accession negotiations does not amount to unconditional backing for Ukraine’s eventual membership.
He said Hungary continues to oppose any accelerated accession process and insists that Ukraine must meet the same requirements as candidate countries in the Western Balkans.
EU ACCESSION TALKS
According to Magyar, the European Union has agreed to monitor Ukraine’s implementation of the minority-rights commitments throughout the accession process.
He also reiterated that Hungary intends to hold a legally binding referendum before any final decision on Ukraine’s membership if Kyiv eventually completes all 33 chapters of EU accession negotiations.
Ukraine has sought to advance its membership bid despite Russia’s full-scale invasion, arguing that closer integration with European institutions is essential for its long-term security and reconstruction.
The apparent breakthrough comes after years of tensions between Budapest and Kyiv over language and education laws affecting minorities in Ukraine, disputes that repeatedly complicated Ukraine’s relations with both Hungary and the European Union.
The European Union granted candidate status to both Ukraine and Moldova in 2022 and formally opened accession negotiations with the two countries in 2024, although membership remains contingent on meeting extensive political, economic, and legal criteria.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Nearly 18,000 people were baptized across 49 countries and all 50 U.S. states on Pentecost Sunday, as more than 1,600 churches joined a coordinated global baptism movement organizers described as one of the largest synchronized baptism events in modern church history.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China on Tuesday to help restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while saying Washington had seen no evidence that Beijing provided military assistance to Iran during the recent conflict.
Antisemitic incidents accounted for more than 60% of New York City’s confirmed hate crimes in May, according to the latest data released by the New York Police Department, underscoring a troubling rise in anti-Jewish hostility even as overall crime in the city continued to decline.
U.S. and allied forces intercepted multiple Iranian missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region this week, as Tehran escalated its pressure campaign despite what U.S. Central Command described as an ongoing ceasefire.
U.S. businesses added more jobs than expected in May, offering another sign that demand for workers is strengthening despite pressure from the Iran war and elevated gas prices.
The House of Representatives handed President Donald Trump a rare political setback Wednesday, voting 215-208 to pass a war powers resolution aimed at ending U.S. hostilities with Iran unless Congress gives formal authorization.
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to downplay signs of friction this week after Trump confirmed he used sharp language during a private phone call over Israel’s continuing military operations in Lebanon.