Ukraine, Hungary in talks to arrange meeting between their leaders

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Top officials from Ukraine and Hungary spoke by phone on Thursday about organizing a meeting between their countries’ leaders in the coming year.

“In continuation of the conversation between (Ukrainian) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, we are working on organizing a meeting between the two leaders in the near future,” Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said on Telegram following a phone conversation with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

Noting that he and Szijjarto had a productive call, Yermak said they also discussed the advancement of Ukraine on its path to European integration.

Szijjarto wrote on his Facebook page that they are interested in maintaining “the best possible cooperation” with all their neighbors, adding that maintaining continuous high-level dialogue is important because “it gives hope that we can improve our relations.”

“Of course, we will not change our position (which is) in favor of peace, but I look forward to our personal meeting in January, because there we will have the opportunity to discuss the most pressing bilateral issues,” he added.

Despite Hungary’s objection to Ukraine starting accession talks with the European Union, the 27-member bloc announced the commencement of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova following a vote by the European Council earlier this month.

Orban’s policy director told reporters on the same day that Hungary did not take part in the vote, as it did not consider Ukraine to be ready to start talks.

Since then, the Hungarian premier has vetoed EU funding of €50 billion ($55 billion) for Ukraine.