Hungarian and Ukrainian foreign ministers likely to meet soon

If all goes well, there could be a meeting between the Hungarian and the Ukrainian foreign ministers in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, on 29 January, during which the parties will review issues relating to bilateral cooperation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Thursday.

Answering a journalist's question at a press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Filip Ivanović, Szijjártó said that holding a Hungarian-Ukrainian summit only makes sense if it can deliver significant results, and proper preparation is needed if that is to happen – MTI reported.

It is to this end that he and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba are scheduled to meet in Uzhhorod on 29 January to discuss the issues of bilateral cooperation in detail, and to examine whether a top-level meeting could help advance relations or what further work needs to be done to bring the leaders of the two countries together with the hope of success.

"I am ready, and I will continue to keep that day secured to the utmost extent possible in my calendar. So at this point, we have both set aside 29 January for meeting in Uzhhorod."

– Szijjártó said, adding that he would also be happy to meet with Andriy Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, but said that no date has yet been proposed. “I am still here and I am waiting for a proposal for a date, and if necessary, I will meet with him too. If meeting with Minister Kuleba is enough, that is of course an internal decision of the Ukrainians, it is not for us to decide.”

444.hu contacted the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and requested a comment to Szijjártó’s words. In his response, spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote that the meeting which Szijjártó spoke about in conditional mode has been included in their schedule for a while. Nikolenko also informed the paper that other than the Foreign Minister, Andriy Yermak will also be there and said that "One of the most important topics of the meeting will be organizing a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This will all take place in order to advance decisions which are important for Ukraine in the European Union and to develop our bilateral relations".

Szijjártó called for avoiding a "bazaar-like atmosphere" on the issue of the frozen EU funds, saying that there was no bargaining going on and that issues which have nothing to do with each other should not be mixed up. "Hungary is entitled to EU funds. Irrespective of Ukraine, the position of the Moon or Martians. These funds must be delivered to Hungary. There is absolutely no legitimate reason for the European Commission to withhold these funds," he added.