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FM: Hungary may be open to a request by Ukraine for a meeting between leaders

The request for a high-level meeting comes as Hungary has stated its opposition to a proposal to start talks on European Union membership for Ukraine.

Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary may be open to a request by Ukraine for a meeting between leaders of the two countries. He added that there would only be any point to talks, however, if a positive outcome appeared possible.
 
Minister Szijjártó had talks by phone with Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, at the initiative of the Ukrainian side, the Hungarian foreign ministry’s spokesman told MTI. Máté Paczolay cited Yermak as informing the foreign minister about Ukraine’s plans to adopt “several important pieces of legislation”. Minister Szijjártó and Yermak were in agreement that bilateral ties called for improvement and decided on a personal meeting to follow. At the talks, Yermak suggested a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Minister Szijjártó said the Hungarian side was open to the proposal, but added that “it would only have a point if there is a chance that the talks would have a positive outcome … this would require thorough preparations and preliminary talks.”