Disciplined Normalization

The Hungary–Ukraine Reconciliation Initiative of the German Marshall Fund of the United States addresses challenges related to trust, security, EU integration, and minority rights in the relations between these two neighboring countries. It offers a strategic confidence-building approach to developing a constructive agenda for the relationship between Hungary and Ukraine.

The initiative aims to serve as a policy compass for the democratic governments in Kyiv and Budapest, to foster mutual understanding among experts and stakeholders with positive spillover effects for both societies, and to help remove obstacles on the Hungarian side that may hinder Ukraine’s EU accession process.

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This first working paper under the initiative looks at how the landslide victory of the Tisza party in the April 2026 parliamentary elections has fundamentally changed the political situation in Hungary, which had previously undermined the relationship with Ukraine. The expected political transformation in Budapest under its new government offers choices for changing the engagement between the two countries and the underlying dynamics. Based on an overview of controversies between them in the past decade, this working paper identifies four contentious issues that need to be addressed, which can lead to the recalibration of relations by the new government: 

• Ensuring the security of natural gas and oil supply.

• Solving minority-rights concerns.

• Addressing economic and trade concerns.

• Supporting Ukraine’s defense and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The views expressed herein are those solely of the author(s). GMF as an institution does not take positions.