The situation for the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia continues to raise concerns about fundamental rights. This was highlighted during a press briefing following a meeting between Hungarian President Katalin Nowak and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, where the emphasis was placed on rights protections in the region. The briefing underscored that guaranteeing basic civil rights remains a critical issue for the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. In response to the European Commission’s recommendation to begin negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership, a leading figure from Hungary commented that there had been little improvement in the minority rights landscape, expressing doubt about positive changes in the near term. The Commission announced that negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova would commence, marking a significant step in regional integration discussions.
Budapest has signaled that it will closely monitor the situation and insists that any move toward EU accession must be accompanied by concrete progress on minority rights within Ukraine. A political advisor to Hungary’s prime minister has reiterated that Budapest views the protection of Hungarian rights as a prerequisite that could influence the course of Ukraine’s EU bid.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign policy leadership has faced questions about the prerequisites for NATO membership, with officials stating that clear, tangible conditions would be necessary for any future alignment with allied security structures.