Hungary's PM claims he could meet Zelenskiy by June if talks on minority rights are successful

He said that if an agreement is reached on the?Hungarian?minority's rights, Magyar would be able to meet Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian President, in June. Magyar struck a positive tone on this issue, which is crucial for Kyiv’s EU aspirations.

Magyar made the remarks during a trip to Poland, which he hopes can help to restore relations between his country and the EU that were damaged by Viktor Orban’s animosity towards Ukraine and warm relationship with Russia.

Magyar takes a more conciliatory approach towards Kyiv. However, he believes that Budapest must agree to Ukraine's entry into the European Union if it is to be able to accept the rights of the approximately 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine to speak their mother tongue.

Magyar said at a press briefing that he hoped the talks would be concluded quickly and successfully.

The foreign ministers of Kyiv and Budapest announced that they began online consultations on Wednesday.

POLAND OFFERS HELP IN DIVERSIFYING ENERGY RESOURCES Budapest’s reluctance in weaning itself off Russian power was a major source of conflict between Orban and Brussels under his rule. Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said that Warsaw is ready to assist Budapest in diversifying its energy sources.

Tusk stated: "I will, if needed, offer cooperation, assistance and investments in the infrastructure to make all of this region as autonomous and independent in terms energy sources as possible." Warsaw intends to provide Budapest with access to U.S. LNG through a new Gdansk Terminal that will begin?operations by 2028. This was revealed to a source familiar with the matter before Magyar’s visit. Orlen already sells?U.S. LNG is being sold to Ukraine.

Hungary is a major prospective buyer. Poland's efforts to expand its LNG pipeline are opening up new revenue streams from central European countries that lack access to the sea. Magyar, however, told TVN24 that Hungary wants to see gas prices that arrive as LNG lowered in a late-night interview on Tuesday.

He said, "It is not yet a very competitive price." We would be happiest with a lower transit charge or if we could convince the European Union to make LNG gas more competitive. Reporting by Alan Charlish in Warsaw; Barbara Erling in Budapest; Pawel Florkiewicz in Warsaw and Anna Wlodarczak Semczuk, in Warsaw. Editing by Raju Gopikrishnan & Toby Chopra.

(source: Reuters)