Prague meeting highlights Czech–Hungarian alignment on migration, war and V4
The Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka met his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó in Prague for talks focused on energy, migration and regional cooperation. Both ministers highlighted what they described as long-standing political alignment between their governments. The meeting also touched on the war in Ukraine, the situation around Greenland, and differing views within the European Union.
A symbolic first visit
The meeting in Prague was framed by both sides as symbolically important. For Macinka, it was the first foreign ministerial visit he has received since taking office, while for Szijjártó it marked what he described as a natural continuation of cooperation between like-minded political forces in Central Europe.
Macinka said the talks did not begin from scratch, pointing to existing cooperation at both government level and within the European Parliament’s Patriots for Europe grouping, where the Czech ANO movement and Hungary’s Fidesz party both belong. According to Macinka, this created a basis for discussions on a broad range of topics, including foreign policy, energy, security and ideology.
In his remarks, Macinka emphasised that the meeting built on previously established positions rather than opening entirely new ground.
“We share a large number of common positions on a wide range of issues—European affairs, foreign policy, ideology, energy, security, and others. This was therefore not a meeting we were starting from scratch today. Although this is the first official visit, I am glad that in this case there was already a solid basis for discussion.”
He added that the talks covered energy policy, including shared views on the EU’s ETS2 emissions trading system, as well as approaches to tackling mass migration. The ministers also discussed the future of the Visegrad Group, with Macinka saying there was interest in making the V4 format more effective and relevant.
War, peace and differing EU approaches
The war in Ukraine was one of the most politically sensitive topics addressed at the press conference. While Macinka avoided sweeping statements, he underlined the need for diplomacy and dialogue, particularly in complex international disputes.
Szijjártó, by contrast, presened Hungary’s position in sharply defined terms. He said Budapest rejects involvement in the war and sees U.S.-led peace initiatives as the only viable path forward. He also suggested that Brussels had chosen confrontation over diplomacy.
“In the same way, we jointly say no to war, we jointly support the American peace efforts, we will not allow ourselves to be dragged into the war, and we hope that Donald Trump’s efforts will be successful. It is clear that in Brussels a decision has been made that one must go to war against Russia. We Hungarians have decided that we will stay out of this war: we will not send the money of the Hungarian people, and we will not send Hungarian weapons to Ukraine either.”
Greenland and diplomacy over declarations
Macinka was also asked about the situation involving Greenland, after comments by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš that Prague could not fully “side” with Greenland. The foreign minister argued against simplifying the issue into a binary choice of sides and stressed the need for sustained diplomatic engagement.
According to Macinka, the situation cannot be resolved by declarations or symbolic gestures. He suggested that negotiations involving the United States, Denmark and Greenland, possibly supported by other partners, would be more constructive.
Macinka also pointed to Czechia’s relations with Washington as a potential asset, saying Prague could offer itself as a helpful intermediary. He confirmed that he had discussed the issue in telephone consultations with EU foreign ministers, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and that the matter would be addressed again at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
Another issue raised was a proposed international “Peace Council” initiative associated with U.S. President Donald Trump. Macinka said Czechia had not received an official invitation to join and questioned the feasibility of the reported one-billion-dollar membership fee for the Czech state budget. Hungary, meanwhile, has indicated its willingness to participate.
Both ministers highlighted what they see as shared interests in Central Europe — particularly on migration, energy security and regional cooperation — and by signalling that their dialogue would continue at upcoming EU-level meetings.
