Hungarian, Ukrainian foreign ministers meet in western Ukraine

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijarto meets with his Ukrainian counterpart Dymtro Kuleba in the western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod today.

The visit precedes a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban. Relations are strained between Budapest and the EU over support for Ukraine. In December, Hungary blocked a $54.3 billion aid package to Ukraine citing budgetary concerns. Next month, Hungary will have another opportunity to veto the aid package despite the looming threat that the EU will invoke Article 7 of its founding treaty and suspend Hungary’s voting rights.

Expect Kuleba and Zelenskyy to attempt to persuade their counterparts that Hungarian reluctance to fully commit to Ukraine is not in Hungary’s best interest. The diplomatic effort will focus on countering Orban’s main criticisms: that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine and that a restoration of European economic relations with Russia is necessary. Kyiv is likely to highlight the impact that military aid has had on Ukraine’s resistance to the invasion and economic sanctions on the Russian economy. Ukraine’s position will also be leveraged by the threat of Article 7. This may be enough to persuade Hungary to allow this aid package to pass but, if so, likely on the condition that this be the last package until the current stalemate shows signs of breaking in Ukraine’s favor.