Key facts
- Hungary is not participating in the Carpathian 8 initiative.
- Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated Hungary received an invitation from Ukraine.
- The Carpathian 8 Summit was hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Hungary's ambassador to Kyiv attended but did not participate in summit proceedings.
- Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have seen a partial thaw since Magyar took office in May.
- Budapest renewed its blockade of Ukraine's EU accession talks.
Hungary is not participating in the Carpathian 8 initiative, a new regional forum intended to bolster economic cooperation, despite receiving an invitation from Ukraine, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Sept. 21. The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted the inaugural summit over the weekend in Ukraine's Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
Magyar told the Hungarian parliament that "We had a good reason not to go." He added, "It's enough that I am the Hungarian prime minister, and if I don't know about this, then believe me, Hungary is not taking part in this (forum)." He assured that if Hungary were to join, it would be announced.
The summit was attended by leaders from Poland, Romania, Serbia, Czechia, Austria, and Slovakia. Hungary's representation was limited to Ambassador Antal Heizer, the head of the Hungarian Embassy in Kyiv. According to a journalist reporting from the summit, Heizer did not appear in the group photo or participate in opening speeches or panel debates.
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have seen some improvement since Magyar took office in May, replacing Viktor Orban. While Magyar has ruled out providing military aid to Ukraine or accelerating its EU accession, he has expressed interest in improving ties. However, Budapest has renewed its blockade of Ukraine's EU accession talks, demanding that Kyiv implement agreements concerning the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian minority.