Hungary

Hungary has set a condition that the Swedish prime minister must visit Hungary before it ratifies Sweden's accession to NATO.

Polish farmers are planning to block the border with Ukraine again to protest the European Commission's decision to extend trade privileges for Ukrainian agricultural exports.

Ukraine avoided the risk of an annual veto on the allocation of financial support from the EU.

The EU has doubled its budgetary support for Ukraine to €50 billion since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reports.

Hungary's parliament will meet on Monday at the request of opposition parties to consider ratification of Sweden's NATO membership application.

Businesses have downgraded their assessments of current operations and prospects due to the intensification of hostilities, rising costs, and uncertainty.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says he has received guarantees that Hungarian money will not go to Ukraine after the EU agreed to provide 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine.

European leaders consider the concessions insignificant, as they avoided a scenario in which Orban would be able to veto funding for Ukraine every year.

According to Ukraine's Foreign Minister, the allocation of 50 billion euros to Ukraine for 2024-2027 demonstrates Kyiv's continued support. In addition, it destroys statements about international partners' fatigue with the war.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that a €50 billion aid package will strengthen Ukraine's long-term economic and financial stability, which is no less important than military aid and sanctions pressure on russia.

The EU has agreed that the European Council may propose to the European Commission to review the €50 billion support program for Ukraine in two years, if necessary.

The Belgian prime minister expressed confidence that EU leaders will be able to reach an agreement on financial assistance to Ukraine at their summit.

EU leaders are gathering for an emergency summit where they are expected to confront Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over his refusal to authorize a new €50 billion aid package for Ukraine, with efforts to persuade Orban doubling in the last 24 hours but failing as Hungary has demanded an annual veto on the funding, The Guardian reports.

The European Commission's proposal to extend the 'economic visa-free regime' for Ukraine will help lift the bans on agricultural imports imposed by Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

In January 2024, more than 21,000 hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine were surveyed for mines as demining efforts continued in accordance with an updated action plan.

In a private conversation, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban acknowledged that Hungary would not be able to prevent Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

EU leaders will propose holding annual debates on the planned €50 billion aid package for Ukraine to overcome Hungary's opposition to the funding.

The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said that Ukraine seeks good neighborly relations with Hungary after a more than 6-hour meeting with the Hungarian foreign minister to discuss the formation of pro-Ukrainian positions ahead of a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Orban.

Zelenskiy and Orban will meet if Ukraine fulfills Hungary's conditions, Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto says.

Deputy Foreign Minister Perebyinis called the Hungarian Foreign Minister's visit to Ukraine a breakthrough, including in terms of dialogue between the two leaders. Both sides confirmed their desire to hold a meeting between the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Hungary.

Border guards in the Bukovyna region of Ukraine used a drone to detect and detain two men who were trying to illegally cross the border with Moldova. The men were from Kyiv and Dnipropetrovs'k regions.

Hungary is ready to join a pan-European decision on financing assistance to Ukraine if there is a guarantee that it will be able to decide annually whether to provide money.

Border guards in Zakarpattia region detected a group of men who were trying to illegally cross the border with Hungary. The men were were hiding in the woods near the border with bags of essentials, having paid smugglers from 500 to 4000 USD to help them cross the border illegally. After the detention, the group was taken to draw up administrative reports.

At a summit on February 1, EU leaders will reaffirm their commitment to continue providing military support to Ukraine and emphasize the urgent need to speed up the supply of ammunition and missiles, according to a draft document obtained by Reuters.

In 2023, Ukraine was ranked 104th out of 180 countries in the Global Corruption Perceptions Index, improving its position by 3 points and receiving 36 points out of 100. Over the past 10 years since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has added 11 points, the largest increase among the current EU candidate countries.

Hungary will not supply weapons to Ukraine, but will continue to provide humanitarian aid, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has said. He reiterated Hungary's position not to supply weapons to Ukraine either now or in the future.

Hungarian far-right politicians said they would "claim" Ukraine's Zakarpattia region if Ukraine loses the war with Russia. In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said that these politicians would "break their teeth" in Ukraine, just as Putin did.

Ukraine will sign bilateral agreements to regulate many citizenship issues rather than create a unified formula, according to MP Maria Mezentseva. She said that Ukraine will take into account the experience of other countries, but will bring some aspects closer to itself even before joining the EU.

Hungary is asking Ukraine to restore the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, which were restricted in 2015, including the status of Hungarian national schools, the ability to take exams in Hungarian, and the free use of the Hungarian language in higher education and culture. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary during a meeting with Ukrainian officials.

Ukraine and Hungary have agreed to set up a commission to finally resolve issues related to national minority rights. The commission will have 10 days to present an understanding of how to resolve the issues raised by Hungary regarding the protection of minority rights.