Hungary PM Magyar to Hold First Official Meeting with Zelensky in Brussels

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on October 14 that he will hold his first official one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels on Friday, October 17. Magyar made the announcement via social media, posting: "On Friday morning I will hold my first official one-on-one meeting with [Zelensky]."

The meeting carries significant diplomatic weight, as it marks a notable shift from Hungary's previous posture under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had maintained a markedly more pro-Russian stance and often blocked EU consensus on supporting Ukraine.

Magyar, who leads a new government following elections earlier this year, has signaled a willingness to engage more constructively with Ukraine and its Western partners. The Brussels meeting represents a key step toward normalizing Hungarian-Ukrainian relations within the European Union framework.

The encounter is expected to cover a range of issues including Ukraine's EU accession path, Hungarian concerns about the Ukrainian minority in the country, and broader questions of regional security. Both leaders will be in Brussels for an EU Council summit scheduled for October 15-16.

European officials have broadly welcomed the prospect of a new Hungarian government more aligned with EU positions on Ukraine. The meeting is seen as an important signal that Budapest is ready to rejoin the European consensus on supporting Kyiv in its defense against Russian aggression.