The Hungarian government will impose additional restrictions on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine to protect Hungarian farmers, the Associated Press reported on Thursday, citing a statement by Agriculture Minister István Nagy.
“The European Union’s decision to allow duty-free imports of goods from Ukraine in 2022 to help its economy stay afloat has led to a large oversupply and low prices on the European agricultural market,” Nagy said at a press conference.
Speaking about the planned new measures against Ukrainian products, the minister explained that the restrictions will now also include processed grain products.
He pointed out that officials in Brussels, in Budapest’s view, ultimately failed to protect European farmers who are unable to compete with cheap Ukrainian goods, and noted that this is why Hungary will introduce additional restrictions at the national level.
Last year, Hungary imposed a ban on the import of 24 Ukrainian agricultural products. The ban applies to grain, flour, vegetable oil, some meat products and other goods. Transit was not affected by this measure.
In March, an agreement on the temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian products entered into force in the EU, the agency said.
Hungarian President Katalin Novak has accepted an invitation from the Ukrainian government and will attend the upcoming Crimean Platform meeting on August 23 in Kiev, Hungarian news portal Telex reported on Sunday, citing information from the communications directorate of the presidential Sándor Palace.
“This also means that the Hungarian head of state may once again meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in person,” the report said.
Shandor’s Palace added that Novak will visit the Transcarpathian region before traveling to Kiev, where he will take part in the King St. Stephen’s feast on August 20 together with ethnic Hungarians living there.
Hungary was represented at the 2022 Crimea Platform by State Secretary Péter Staray, responsible for energy supply and security policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He stated Hungary’s unwavering support for Ukraine and that Hungary’s main goal was peace.
The publication notes that since then “several things have complicated Hungary-Ukraine diplomatic relations,” including the fact that Novak has not signed a declaration welcoming Ukraine’s new ambassador to Hungary, Fyodor Szandor, since March. “Until this happens, Fedor Szandor, who serves as a volunteer soldier and also teaches at Uzhhorod National University, will not be able to hold his post,” the report said.
“Telex” reports that this week another Hungarian publication “Index”, citing a diplomatic source close to the president, wrote that Novak is postponing the signing of the statement on the acceptance of the new Ukrainian ambassador because he allegedly has not been able to contact Zelensky for several months.
The Hungarian president met with the Ukrainian head of state for the last time on November 26, 2022.
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air will soon start flights from Kyiv to Brussels-Charleroi and Paris-Beauvais Airports.
“Our newest added destinations of Wizz from Kyiv include: Dortmund, Memmingen (Munich West,) Brussels-Charleroi, Paris-Beauvais and Copenhagen,” says a message sent to the airline’s customers on Thursday.
At the same time, flights from Kyiv to Brussels-Charleroi and Paris-Beauvais are not currently shown in the booking system, while flights to Dortmund and Memmingen (Munich West) have been serviced by the company for several years, and those to Copenhagen since August 2017.
As reported, Wizz Air in January-May 2018 transported 425,000 passengers to/from Ukraine, which is almost twice as many as in the same period of 2017. “From Kyiv, we offer 1.3 million passenger seats this year, which is 79% up. And in total from Ukraine this year, we offer 1.67 million passenger seats,” Head of Corporate Communications at Wizz Air Sorina Ratz said late in June.
