Hungary demands that Ukraine restore the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia before discussing EU membership.

The new Hungarian government, led by the conservative Péter Magyar, has asked Ukraine to restore the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia before negotiating other issues, including accession to the European Union. The head of Hungarian diplomacy, Anita Orban, emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of this community of approximately 150,000 people, mentioning a constructive dialogue with her Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sěbiga.

Relations between Budapest and Kiev have deteriorated following the adoption of Ukrainian laws that limited the use of the Hungarian language. Péter Magyar stated that resolving the rights of the Hungarian minority is an essential condition for unlocking Ukraine's EU accession negotiations. Additionally, the Hungarian government expresses its support for the accession of countries in the Western Balkans, provided that the accession criteria are met.