Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Hungarian PM Viktor Orban on the phone on Tuesday. The consultation focused on Ukraine's European integration, the reception of refugees fleeing the war and other areas of cooperation between Hungary and Ukraine.

According to information relayed by Bertalan Havasi, the deputy state secretary of Hungarian PM Orban’s press office, during the talks Mr Orban stressed that Hungary supports granting EU member state candidate status to Ukraine and calls for the removal of bureaucratic obstacles before Ukraine’s actual accession to the EU as soon as possible. Hungary’s prime minister informed Ukraine’s president that this is the position he will represent at this week’s EU summit.

Mr Orban also talked about the fact that Hungary has received nearly 800,000 so far Ukrainian refugees and is ready for further cooperation in the energy sector, for the rail transportation of Ukrainian cereals, and the reception of even more Ukrainian students. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Mr Orban for Hungary’s assistance.