Hungary will not oppose transit of Ukrainian grain to Europe — Magyar

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said he would have no objections to Ukrainian grain transiting through Hungary, provided the shipments were destined for other countries. He made the statement in an interview with RTL. According to Magyar, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary to allow grain transit due to the Black Sea blockade. The issue was discussed during talks on October 16, when the two leaders also agreed to reset relations between Ukraine and Hungary.

During their one-on-one meeting, Zelenskiy stressed that allowing Ukraine to transport corn to Western Europe by rail in sealed wagons would be of significant help. Magyar said he saw no obstacles to such shipments as long as the grain merely transited Hungary on its way to other countries. Therefore, the proposal does not involve opening the Hungarian market to Ukrainian agricultural products but rather using the country’s transport infrastructure for further exports.

According to Magyar, Ukraine is proposing a return to the transit mechanism used at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. This could partially offset restrictions on Black Sea logistics and provide additional routes for grain deliveries to European buyers. The issue was discussed during talks between Zelenskiy and Magyar on October 16 at the EU summit in Brussels, where the two sides also agreed to reset Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.

The need to expand overland exports is linked to a sharp deterioration in security conditions in the Black Sea. Ukraine remains one of the world’s leading exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower seed, with around 90% of its exports of these crops shipped by sea. Russian attacks on port infrastructure and shipping have led to a significant reduction in agricultural exports through Black Sea ports. Under these circumstances, restoring transit through neighboring countries could become an important means of supporting Ukrainian exporters.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian corn could be in demand on the European market due to declining domestic production in the EU. According to the European Commission’s August forecast, the EU corn harvest in 2026 is expected to reach around 50.1 mln tons, close to its lowest level in nearly two decades and approximately 20% below the average of the previous three years. Producers in France and Hungary have suffered particularly heavy losses due to record heat and drought. Against this backdrop, restoring overland routes could help Ukraine maintain export shipments and provide additional grain supplies to European buyers.

Tags: Ukraine, corn, grain, grain export, EU, Hungary