Hungarian foreign minister outlines what is needed for Zelenskyy to meet Orbán

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said Budapest has no objection to a meeting between Viktor Orban and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but it should be preceded by "proper preparation". Source: Szijjarto in a comment to ATV, as reported by European Pravda Details: Commenting on a conversation he had with Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, the Hungarian minister agreed that the countries "absolutely need to improve relations", and the best way to do this is for "the parties to talk to each other directly".

Although Szijjarto confirmed that Yermak had called for a high-level meeting between Ukraine and Hungary, he stated that "it most likely will not take place without proper preparation".

But early next week, he hopes to have a face-to-face meeting in Brussels with the "Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister"--he did not name who specifically, but it is likely to be Olha Stefanishyna. Hungary is known to systematically block the adoption of any Ukraine-related decisions at EU leaders' meetings, ranging from the start of negotiations to the approval of EUR50 billion of macro-financial assistance. On 7 December, French President Emmanuel Macron invited the Hungarian Prime Minister to a meeting to find a compromise regarding the start of EU membership negotiations with Ukraine.

Media reports say the EU states have yet to reach agreement on the wording of the EU summit's final decision due to Budapest's opposition.

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