Ukraine hopes for more cooperation after Hungary elects new prime minister

2 days ago 5

The incoming prime minister of Hungary is no fan of Ukraine, but he says he wants to work with the European Union, raising hopes he'll lift a Hungarian veto on a $100 billion EU loan to Kyiv.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

With Viktor Orban soon to be out as prime minister of Hungary, a new era of cooperation with neighboring Ukraine may be at hand. Orban was close to the Kremlin and repeatedly blocked European Union aid to Kyiv. Now, the man who will replace him, Peter Magyar, says he wants to work with the EU and he wants an alliance with Ukraine, but with some caveats. Joining us from Kyiv to discuss is NPR's Ukraine correspondent Joanna Kakissis. Joanna, so how did Ukrainians, first of all, react to this landslide loss by Orban's party?

JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: Well, A, here, there is - there's finally some hope that maybe Ukraine can work with Hungary, since the relationship has been so toxic. I mean, Viktor Orban tried to get his party reelected by vilifying Ukraine, by portraying it as this corrupt, warmongering country. And so you would have also been forgiven if you thought Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was actually on the Hungarian ballot because his face was all over election posters and billboards put up by Orban supporters. I remember this one billboard depicted Zelenskyy with the big winner in the Hungarian elections, Peter Magyar, flushing money down a golden toilet.

And now, at the same time, Ukrainians were also really galled by how Orban and members of his party were so cozy with the Kremlin. I mean, Orban was Moscow's closest ally in the EU. And this also bothered Hungarians, some of whom shouted, Russians, go home, after Orban's defeat. Zelenskyy immediately congratulated Magyar, who is expected to take over as soon as May 5, and the two men have pledged to meet soon.

MARTÍNEZ: OK. So why's a good relationship with Hungary important to Ukraine?

KAKISSIS: Well, you know, basically, Zelenskyy just wants a leader in Hungary who, at the very least, does not veto European Union aid to Ukraine, which Ukraine desperately needs. And beyond that, Ukraine and Hungary are neighbors. They share a border. There's a Hungarian-speaking minority in Western Ukraine.

MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. Zelenskyy has said repeatedly that he wants good relations with Ukraine's neighbors. So is that now possible with this new, incoming prime minister?

KAKISSIS: Well, you know, there are some good signs so far. You know, Magyar told reporters in Budapest yesterday that Ukraine is the victim in this war and has every right to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

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PETER MAGYAR: (Speaking Hungarian).

KAKISSIS: He's saying no one has the right to tell any other country to give up this or that part of their land, and anyone who says so is a traitor. Now, Magyar does not want Hungary to send money to Ukraine, but he said he will not block a $100 billion loan for Ukraine from the European Union. This loan is supposed to finance Ukraine's defense and economy this year and next, and Orban repeatedly vetoed this loan, even though Hungarian money is not involved in it. As for Ukraine's EU membership, Magyar says he will not block it. However, he does not support Ukraine's efforts to fast-track this membership. He said a country at war cannot be admitted into the EU. And he also wants to ask Hungarians via a referendum whether they want Ukraine in the EU.

MARTÍNEZ: Are any other potential conflicts on the horizon?

KAKISSIS: Well, the Druzhba pipeline has been a point of contention between the two countries. It's a Soviet-era pipeline that transports Russian fuel to Hungary. Now, Hungary is one of two EU states exempted from EU sanctions on Russian oil, and in January, a Russian strike damaged a portion of this pipeline running through Western Ukraine. And last month, Zelenskyy said he was in no hurry to fix it, especially as Orban blocked the EU's Ukraine aid. And then, just before the Hungarian election, Zelenskyy said repairs on the pipeline were underway, and so maybe it could reopen this spring.

MARTÍNEZ: That's NPR's Joanna Kakissis in Kyiv. Joanna, thanks.

KAKISSIS: You're welcome.

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