The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially withdrawn its advisory against travel to Hungary. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced the change on social media following the conclusion of Hungary's parliamentary elections.
"Following the conclusion of Hungary's elections yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is cancelling its previous recommendation for citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary," Sybiha wrote. He noted that the election campaign, which he characterized as being "rife with anti-Ukrainian rhetoric," has ended.
Ukrainian officials originally issued the travel warning in early March. The decision followed the detention of seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards by Hungarian authorities.
Normalizing diplomatic ties
Sybiha stated that the heightened risk of provocations that initially prompted the restrictions has now subsided. He expressed a willingness to normalize relations between Kyiv and Budapest.
"The choice of the Hungarian people also marked the defeat of blackmail and anti-Ukrainian propaganda," the minister said. "Hungarians have clearly said: enough. This will also have consequences for other parties and movements in Europe that promote similar rhetoric."
Preliminary election results from April 12 show the opposition party Tisza securing a constitutional majority with roughly 99% of the vote counted. Sybiha indicated that while the election cycle is over, both nations must still engage in significant work to restore good neighborly relations.
He emphasized that building a stable partnership remains in the interest of both countries and the broader European region. The lifting of the travel advisory marks one of the first official signs of a shift in diplomatic tone following the vote.
