Zelenskyy Made a Proposal to Madyar on St. Stephen's Day
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Mádár and the Hungarian people on St. Stephen’s Day—the country’s main national holiday. In his message, the Ukrainian president thanked Hungary for its support of Ukraine and expressed his readiness to turn a new page in relations between the two countries. Zelenskyy also invited Mádár to Kyiv and said he would be pleased to meet with the Hungarian prime minister at the earliest convenient time.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent greetings to Péter Magyar and the Hungarian people on St. Stephen’s Day. This is Hungary’s main national holiday, celebrated on August 20. In his letter, the Ukrainian president highlighted the historical ties between the two countries. According to him, Ukraine and Hungary have been united for centuries by good neighborly relations, mutual respect, and a shared struggle for freedom and statehood.
Zelenskyy also thanked Hungary for its support of Ukraine. He specifically highlighted the assistance provided to Ukrainians who have found themselves in Hungary due to the full-scale war. This includes, in particular, humanitarian aid, rehabilitation programs for Ukrainian children and military personnel, as well as assistance to Ukrainian citizens. “We are grateful to Hungary for its consistent support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its solidarity at this extremely important time for our country,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The President invited Mádár to Kyiv
The most notable part of the message was a personal invitation to the Hungarian prime minister to visit the Ukrainian capital. Zelenskyy stated that he would be delighted to welcome Péter Mádár to Kyiv at his earliest convenience. This invitation came amid statements by Ukrainian authorities expressing a desire to restart relations with Hungary. Kyiv hopes that, following political changes in the neighboring country, it will be possible to move toward a more open and constructive dialogue.
“Ukraine values Hungary as a good neighbor and a reliable partner,” Zelenskyy noted. The next step now depends on the Hungarian side. If Magyar accepts the invitation, his visit to Kyiv could send an important signal about the two countries’ readiness to establish direct political dialogue.
Zelenskyy Speaks of a New Chapter
Separately, the Ukrainian president stated that Ukraine and Hungary can turn a new page in their bilateral relations. According to Zelenskyy, future cooperation should be based on mutual respect, peace, understanding, and shared interests.
This is an important development, as relations between Kyiv and Budapest have remained strained in recent years. Hungarian authorities have repeatedly made statements regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, Ukraine’s European integration, and issues concerning the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, which have led to sharp disputes between the two countries. At the same time, Ukraine and Hungary remain neighboring countries that share a border and face a number of practical issues to resolve. That is precisely why Kyiv is interested in direct dialogue with the new Hungarian leadership. Zelenskyy has effectively proposed moving beyond political disputes to identify specific areas where the countries can cooperate.
Ukraine and Hungary are marking 35 years of diplomatic relations
In his letter, Zelenskyy also highlighted an important milestone—this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Hungary. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established after Ukraine declared its independence. Since then, the countries have built ties in many areas—from trade and cross-border cooperation to humanitarian issues.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has posed a serious test for these relations. Hungary has its own position on many issues related to the war, and Budapest and Kyiv have repeatedly clashed publicly. Despite this, in his address, Zelenskyy emphasizes the future. He speaks of the possibility of full-fledged cooperation and the need to maintain good-neighborly relations.
A meeting between Zelenskyy and Mádyar had already been discussed
The invitation to Kyiv did not come as a complete surprise. As early as the NATO summit in Ankara in July, Zelenskyy and Péter Magyar had agreed to meet. The NATO summit in Ankara took place on July 7–8, 2026. At the summit, the Ukrainian president held a series of bilateral talks with partners and discussed further support for Ukraine.
After the summit, Kyiv continued its contacts with European partners. Zelenskyy also emphasized that Ukraine is interested in practical cooperation with European countries in the field of security. Now, the Ukrainian president has effectively confirmed his readiness to proceed with a face-to-face meeting with the Hungarian prime minister in Kyiv.
Why Magyar’s visit could be important
A meeting between the two leaders could provide an opportunity to directly discuss issues that have recently caused tension between the countries. These include support for Ukraine, relations with the European Union, issues concerning the Hungarian community in Ukraine, cross-border cooperation, and regional security.
It is important for Kyiv to maintain a constructive dialogue with a neighboring country that is a member of both the EU and NATO. For Hungary, cooperation with Ukraine also has practical significance due to their shared border and the security situation in the region. Therefore, the upcoming meeting could be more than just a ceremonial visit. It may demonstrate the extent to which the parties are ready to move toward concrete agreements. At the same time, the invitation itself does not mean that all disputes between Kyiv and Budapest have been resolved. This can only be discussed after negotiations and concrete decisions have been made.
What’s Next
For now, Zelenskyy has confirmed his readiness to host Péter Magyar in the Ukrainian capital. The date of the potential meeting has not yet been announced. For Kyiv, this is an opportunity to discuss the future of bilateral relations directly with the Hungarian prime minister. The Ukrainian side is making it clear that it is ready for an open dialogue and seeks to leave the period of constant political conflicts behind.
Now the main question is whether Mádár will come to Kyiv and what the results of a possible meeting will be. This will determine whether the declared “new chapter” in relations between Ukraine and Hungary will translate into real changes. This is stated in a letter from Zelenskyy, published by the Ukrainian Embassy in Budapest.
Hungary condemned Russia’s latest massive missile attack on Ukrainian territory, as well as the incident involving an X-101 cruise missile that violated Polish airspace. Officials in Budapest emphasized that such actions pose a threat to the security of the entire region.
