{"id":2017262,"date":"2026-06-29T15:08:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T12:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017262"},"modified":"2026-06-29T15:08:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T12:08:43","slug":"explainer-why-peter-magyar-is-reluctant-to-align-with-the-eu-on-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017262","title":{"rendered":"Explainer: Why P\u00e9ter Magyar is reluctant to align with the EU on Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/44\/83\/1200x675_cmsv2_1325e017-4e74-515c-8352-0bdd453fad5c-9814483.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905231-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905231\" data-cid=\"9815243\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905231-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/52\/43\/189x106_cmsv2_fa503df9-b64e-5a7c-ade0-2c891490ded4-9815243.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Kelsey Robinson on why AI is creating more anxiety than impact in marketing\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    McKinsey&#8217;s Kelsey Robinson on the current marketing AI paradox\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905830-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905830\" data-cid=\"9817683\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905830-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/76\/83\/189x106_cmsv2_39a8a0a0-746f-536c-b232-ea8571d0d97d-9817683.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The June heatwave has broken historical records across Europe.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Neither pro nor con: EU declines to take stand on AC amid heatwave\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904963-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2904963\" data-cid=\"9813961\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904963-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/38\/63\/189x106_cmsv2_788a7c61-fa2b-545e-afd5-0b449ce80f80-9813863.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Margaritis Schinas\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Earth News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Greek fishers will be paid to catch invasive pufferfish\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905724-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905724\" data-cid=\"9817019\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905724-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/70\/19\/189x106_cmsv2_9ea1995c-b722-5894-9448-95df4446b008-9817019.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tourists enjoy cooling off at a public water fountain In Paris, Friday, June 26, 2026. 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(AP Photo\/Christophe Ena )\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Keeping cool has become Europe&#8217;s latest climate class war\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Explainer: Why P\u00e9ter Magyar is reluctant to align with the EU on Ukraine<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/44\/83\/1536x864_cmsv2_1325e017-4e74-515c-8352-0bdd453fad5c-9814483.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, greets Hungary&apos;s Prime Minister Peter Magyar, center, next to European Council President Antonio Costa during a round table mee\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Ukraine&#8217;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, greets Hungary&#8217;s Prime Minister Peter Magyar, center, next to European Council President Antonio Costa during a round table mee<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspSandor Zsiros\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1782745723\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-06-29 17:08:43 +02:00\">29\/06\/2026 &#8211; 17:08 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span 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height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Hungary&#8217;s new prime minister ended Budapest&#8217;s veto on Ukraine&#8217;s EU accession talks in June, but is resisting further progress, citing minority rights, Western Balkans fairness, and domestic political pressures. Here&#8217;s why he&#8217;s digging in.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>When freshly sworn-in Hungarian Prime Minister P\u00e9ter Magyar lifted Hungary&#8217;s long-standing veto on Ukraine&#8217;s EU membership bid in early June, many in Brussels and Kyiv breathed a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The move signalled the end of Viktor Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s years-long policy of blocking Ukrainian accession, and was welcomed by both Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Ant\u00f3nio Costa, both staunch supporters of Ukrainian accession.<\/p>\n<p>But Magyar has been quick to temper expectations in Brussels. At his first European Council summit in June, he made clear to fellow leaders that he opposed any fast-tracking of Ukraine&#8217;s path to membership.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to reporters after the June summit, Magyar said he had requested the deletion of a passage in the joint conclusions that called for opening all remaining negotiating clusters with Ukraine &#8220;as soon as possible&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We removed a lot from the text to avoid any explicit suggestion that, now that the first cluster has been opened, all the others will suddenly be opened as well,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We do not think that would be a good idea.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why did Magyar approve opening the first cluster?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Magyar made his opposition to Ukraine&#8217;s fast-track membership a central plank of his election campaign, and he has maintained since taking office.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a matter of fact that he is not a pro-Ukrainian politician, and the representatives of the new Hungarian government are not talking transparently and honestly to the Hungarian public about the accession of Ukraine to the European Union,&#8221; D\u00e1niel Heged\u0171s, Deputy Director of the Institut f\u00fcr Europ\u00e4ische Politik, told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>According to Heged\u0171s, Magyar lifted the veto on the first cluster principally to signal his government&#8217;s constructive new approach towards the EU.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is practically re-establishing Hungary as a trustworthy and constructive partner on the EU stage. And it was a very fundamental expectation from EU partners.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Shortly before lifting the veto, Magyar struck a political agreement with von der Leyen on the release of \u20ac16.4 billion in previously frozen EU funds for Hungary. Both sides stressed that the funds deal was unrelated to the decision on Ukraine.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why is Magyar resisting further progress?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Last week, Hungary blocked a joint EU position at working-party level in Brussels on opening the remaining five negotiating clusters.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The first cluster has only just been opened,&#8221; Magyar said. &#8220;The ink is barely dry on the decision.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In parallel, the European Commission scaled back its own ambitions: its goal is now to open two clusters with Ukraine in July, rather than all five.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The further moves are not seen as essential by stakeholders of the new Hungarian government to maintain the same image, and there is also no immediate political benefit that Magyar can hope to achieve from improving the bilateral relationship with President Zelenskyy,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said.<\/p>\n<p>Magyar also framed his position as a defence of Western Balkans candidates \u2013 Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia \u2013 which have spent years, and in some cases decades, working towards EU membership.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It also sends the wrong message to the Western Balkan countries that have spent years working towards EU membership,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Some have even changed their names; others have rewritten large parts of their constitutions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The minority rights deal<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The opening of the first cluster followed a bilateral agreement between Hungary and Ukraine on the educational and language rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine \u2013 a point of tension between Budapest and Kyiv for years.<\/p>\n<p>Magyar&#8217;s precondition for lifting the veto was that the needs of the Hungarian community in the Transcarpathia region be addressed.<\/p>\n<p>His Tisza Party now argues that any further progress on accession requires Kyiv to implement the deal, the details of which have not been made public in either capital.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If they are now arguing that they would like to see the implementation of the minority deal before opening those clusters, I am simply asking whether they actually communicated this position to the Ukrainian side during those bilateral negotiations,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said. &#8220;I think it is very difficult to argue that the Hungarian government is acting in good faith.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Magyar had earlier said he was prepared to meet President Zelenskyy in Ukraine&#8217;s Transcarpathia region once the agreement was reached. That meeting has not yet taken place.<\/p>\n<p>Heged\u0171s also rejected Magyar&#8217;s argument that Western Balkans accession should take precedence over Ukraine, noting that many candidates from the region have moved quickly through the opening of negotiating clusters.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Domestic politics loom large<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While Orb\u00e1n lost this spring&#8217;s election by a wide margin, a large portion of Hungarian society remains sceptical about Ukraine&#8217;s EU aspirations \u2013 a reality that means Magyar must tread carefully.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Survey data from last year clearly show that the majority of Hungarian society opposes Ukraine&#8217;s EU accession. But those attitudes were shaped in a media ecosystem where Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s anti-Ukrainian propaganda was part of everyday media consumption,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said.<\/p>\n<p>Magyar is also frequently described as a nationalist figure, having spent years in Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s Fidesz party before breaking with it in 2024. He has recently drawn criticism for a remark suggesting that Hungary was one of the few countries in the world to border itself.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If I were to rationalise the whole thing, Magyar would like to avoid criticism from Fidesz and the far-right Mi Haz\u00e1nk party for being too soft on Ukraine. We know that he is not really pro-Ukrainian in his attitudes,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said.<\/p>\n<p>The next test, the analyst added, will come at the EU&#8217;s General Affairs Council, where member states are due to decide on opening two additional negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU scales back Ukraine&#8217;s accession timetable due to Hungarian resistance <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Exclusive: Inside the deal that lifted Hungary&#8217;s veto on Ukraine&#8217;s EU accession<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Hungary unlocks \u20ac16.4bn in EU funds after Magyar secures deal with Brussels<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European Union<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Hungary<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905830-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905830\" data-cid=\"9817683\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905830-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/76\/83\/320x180_cmsv2_39a8a0a0-746f-536c-b232-ea8571d0d97d-9817683.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The June heatwave has broken historical records across Europe.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Neither pro nor con: EU declines to take stand on AC amid heatwave<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905653-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905653\" data-cid=\"9816733\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905653-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/67\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_953900f0-6250-58c7-b776-495d33b641b1-9816733.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, Tuesday, June 16, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz talks as US-Iran deal stays on 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the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904805\" data-cid=\"9812928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904805-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/29\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_1015fdce-3a3a-5f19-b051-0eb7a1cb33a1-9812928.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Paris city view (file photo)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where do workers lose the biggest share of their salaries in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905599-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905599\" data-cid=\"9816571\" 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class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905830-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905830\" data-cid=\"9817683\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905830-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/76\/83\/320x180_cmsv2_39a8a0a0-746f-536c-b232-ea8571d0d97d-9817683.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The June heatwave has broken historical records across Europe.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Neither pro nor con: EU declines to take stand on AC amid heatwave<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905653-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905653\" data-cid=\"9816733\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905653-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/67\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_953900f0-6250-58c7-b776-495d33b641b1-9816733.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, Tuesday, June 16, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz talks as US-Iran deal stays on edge<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905809-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905809\" data-cid=\"9817559\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905809-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/75\/59\/320x180_cmsv2_7352bbad-3113-56eb-ac66-4b13e329b0b6-9817559.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emergency responders and forensic investigators in Stade, 29 June, 2026 \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    At least five killed in shooting in northern Germany, police say<br \/>\n  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data-cid=\"9812928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904805-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/29\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_1015fdce-3a3a-5f19-b051-0eb7a1cb33a1-9812928.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Paris city view (file photo)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where do workers lose the biggest share of their salaries in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905599-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905599\" data-cid=\"9816571\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Another heat record broken in Germany<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905658-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905658\" data-cid=\"9816753\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin admits oil deficit amid Ukrainian strikes on refineries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905653-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905653\" data-cid=\"9816733\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz talks as US-Iran deal stays on edge<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905592-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905592\" data-cid=\"9816514\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Swiss glaciers melting rapidly in June as Europe faces extreme heat<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904967-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904967\" data-cid=\"9813915\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Heatwave: Which European countries are running out of water?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">When freshly sworn-in Hungarian Prime Minister P\u00e9ter Magyar lifted Hungary&#8217;s long-standing veto on Ukraine&#8217;s EU membership bid in early June, many in Brussels and Kyiv breathed a sigh of relief.The move signalled the end of Viktor Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s years-long policy of blocking Ukrainian accession, and was welcomed by both Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Ant\u00f3nio Costa, both staunch supporters of Ukrainian accession.But Magyar has been quick to temper expectations in Brussels. At his first European Council summit in June, he made clear to fellow leaders that he opposed any fast-tracking of Ukraine&#8217;s path to membership.Speaking to reporters after the June summit, Magyar said he had requested the deletion of a passage in the joint conclusions that called for opening all remaining negotiating clusters with Ukraine &#8220;as soon as possible&#8221;.&#8221;We removed a lot from the text to avoid any explicit suggestion that, now that the first cluster has been opened, all the others will suddenly be opened as well,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We do not think that would be a good idea.&#8221;Why did Magyar approve opening the first cluster?Magyar made his opposition to Ukraine&#8217;s fast-track membership a central plank of his election campaign, and he has maintained since taking office.&#8221;It&#8217;s a matter of fact that he is not a pro-Ukrainian politician, and the representatives of the new Hungarian government are not talking transparently and honestly to the Hungarian public about the accession of Ukraine to the European Union,&#8221; D\u00e1niel Heged\u0171s, Deputy Director of the Institut f\u00fcr Europ\u00e4ische Politik, told Euronews.According to Heged\u0171s, Magyar lifted the veto on the first cluster principally to signal his government&#8217;s constructive new approach towards the EU.&#8221;This is practically re-establishing Hungary as a trustworthy and constructive partner on the EU stage. And it was a very fundamental expectation from EU partners.&#8221;Shortly before lifting the veto, Magyar struck a political agreement with von der Leyen on the release of \u20ac16.4 billion in previously frozen EU funds for Hungary. Both sides stressed that the funds deal was unrelated to the decision on Ukraine.Why is Magyar resisting further progress?Last week, Hungary blocked a joint EU position at working-party level in Brussels on opening the remaining five negotiating clusters.&#8221;The first cluster has only just been opened,&#8221; Magyar said. &#8220;The ink is barely dry on the decision.&#8221;In parallel, the European Commission scaled back its own ambitions: its goal is now to open two clusters with Ukraine in July, rather than all five.&#8221;The further moves are not seen as essential by stakeholders of the new Hungarian government to maintain the same image, and there is also no immediate political benefit that Magyar can hope to achieve from improving the bilateral relationship with President Zelenskyy,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said.Magyar also framed his position as a defence of Western Balkans candidates \u2013 Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia \u2013 which have spent years, and in some cases decades, working towards EU membership.&#8221;It also sends the wrong message to the Western Balkan countries that have spent years working towards EU membership,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Some have even changed their names; others have rewritten large parts of their constitutions.&#8221;The minority rights dealThe opening of the first cluster followed a bilateral agreement between Hungary and Ukraine on the educational and language rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine \u2013 a point of tension between Budapest and Kyiv for years.Magyar&#8217;s precondition for lifting the veto was that the needs of the Hungarian community in the Transcarpathia region be addressed.His Tisza Party now argues that any further progress on accession requires Kyiv to implement the deal, the details of which have not been made public in either capital.&#8221;If they are now arguing that they would like to see the implementation of the minority deal before opening those clusters, I am simply asking whether they actually communicated this position to the Ukrainian side during those bilateral negotiations,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said. &#8220;I think it is very difficult to argue that the Hungarian government is acting in good faith.&#8221;Magyar had earlier said he was prepared to meet President Zelenskyy in Ukraine&#8217;s Transcarpathia region once the agreement was reached. That meeting has not yet taken place.Heged\u0171s also rejected Magyar&#8217;s argument that Western Balkans accession should take precedence over Ukraine, noting that many candidates from the region have moved quickly through the opening of negotiating clusters.Domestic politics loom largeWhile Orb\u00e1n lost this spring&#8217;s election by a wide margin, a large portion of Hungarian society remains sceptical about Ukraine&#8217;s EU aspirations \u2013 a reality that means Magyar must tread carefully.&#8221;Survey data from last year clearly show that the majority of Hungarian society opposes Ukraine&#8217;s EU accession. But those attitudes were shaped in a media ecosystem where Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s anti-Ukrainian propaganda was part of everyday media consumption,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said.Magyar is also frequently described as a nationalist figure, having spent years in Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s Fidesz party before breaking with it in 2024. He has recently drawn criticism for a remark suggesting that Hungary was one of the few countries in the world to border itself.&#8221;If I were to rationalise the whole thing, Magyar would like to avoid criticism from Fidesz and the far-right Mi Haz\u00e1nk party for being too soft on Ukraine. We know that he is not really pro-Ukrainian in his attitudes,&#8221; Heged\u0171s said.The next test, the analyst added, will come at the EU&#8217;s General Affairs Council, where member states are due to decide on opening two additional negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/06\/29\/explainer-why-peter-magyar-is-reluctant-to-align-with-the-eu-on-ukraine&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/44\/83\/1200x675_cmsv2_1325e017-4e74-515c-8352-0bdd453fad5c-9814483.jpg&#8221;] Culture news McKinsey&#8217;s Kelsey Robinson on the current marketing AI paradox Europe News Neither pro nor con: EU declines to take stand on AC amid heatwave Earth News Greek fishers will be paid to catch invasive pufferfish Europe News Keeping cool has become Europe&#8217;s latest climate class war Culture news McKinsey&#8217;s Kelsey [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2017262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2017262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017262\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2017262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2017262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2017262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}