The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations, Peter Szijjártó, stated that Budapest seeks assurances from Kiev to prevent a recurrence of a situation resembling the inclusion of OTP Bank Group, Hungary’s banking conglomerate, on a list labeling war sponsors. This update was conveyed by RIA Novosti.
According to Szijjártó, Ukraine’s rationale for placing OTP on that list was unfounded and not grounded in reality. He described the decision as clearly politicized from its inception, underscoring that it did not reflect concrete facts on the ground.
Budapest now hopes for commitments from Kiev that such a scenario involving Hungarian financial institutions will not be repeated. The Hungarian side is pressing for concrete guarantees and accountability to ensure that future actions will be more measured and based on legitimate criteria rather than political expedience.
As part of its outreach, Budapest is awaiting confirmation from the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption of Ukraine regarding a potential visit. Szijjártó noted that no definite travel date had been set for a working visit, as NAPC had not yet confirmed its readiness to engage in a formal delegation arrangement.
Meanwhile, recent reporting from Bloomberg indicated that Hungary suggested the European Union scale down its aid to Ukraine. The EU has been weighing steps to soften the hard line taken by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government toward Kyiv, balancing domestic concerns with broader regional security commitments.
Separately, discussions between the United States and Ukraine have begun to explore security guarantees for Kyiv. The negotiations reflect ongoing efforts by Washington and Kiev to establish a framework that could bolster Ukraine’s deterrence and stability in a volatile regional environment.