Hungary has agreed to protect the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine within the framework of existing legislation
The new Hungarian government has agreed that the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine will be safeguarded within the framework of current Ukrainian legislation and the approved action plan.
A key basis for the agreements was the recognition that policy regarding national minorities will be implemented in accordance with the law on the protection of national minorities, which was adopted in Ukraine last year.
Kachka emphasized that the previous Hungarian government insisted on concluding a separate bilateral agreement, whereas the current Hungarian government has agreed to work within the framework of the already approved Ukrainian action plan.
“The previous Hungarian government refused to go along with the general plan and demanded a bilateral agreement. Therefore, we finally convinced the Hungarian government that the action plan we presented a year and a half ago would adequately protect the rights and interests of national minorities,” said Kachka.
According to the official, the Hungarian side has been convinced that the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine are already being safeguarded, particularly regarding education and the use of the native language.
Among the measures provided for in the plan are the possibility of duplicating street names and signs in areas with a high concentration of Hungarians, as well as the use of national minority symbols during the celebration of commemorative dates and cultural events.
“The point is that the measures provided for in the plan—specifically regarding the possibility of duplicating street names in their areas of residence, the possibility of using symbols of national minorities during the celebration of commemorative dates of national minorities, and other matters—will be implemented,” the Deputy Prime Minister explained.
The parties are also discussing specific issues related to the educational process, particularly the possibility for schoolchildren to communicate in the language of a national minority during breaks.
“This is perhaps the only substantive issue, and there are a few specific clarifications,” Kachka concluded.
The agreements reached could be an important step toward further dialogue between Ukraine and Hungary, particularly in the context of Ukraine’s European integration.
This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka during question time with the government in the Verkhovna Rada.
The action plan regarding national minorities, which was agreed upon with Hungary, will apply to all national minorities in Ukraine and will be implemented in 2026–2027.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga will visit Hungary next week, where he is expected to make concessions on the language issue.
We previously reported that Ukraine hopes to improve dialogue with Hungary regarding the development of bilateral relations, and certain changes in this direction are already taking place.
