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Europe Today: Magyar softens on Ukraine as EU prepares new Russia sanctions
Hungary could lift its veto on the opening of Ukraine's EU accession talks if Kyiv accepts to protect minority rights for the Hungarian community in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU is preparing more sanctions against Russia. Angela Skujins speaks to the EU's Sanctions Envoy, David O'Sullivan.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/06/03/europe-today-magyar-softens-on-ukraine-as-eu-prepares-new-russia-sanctions
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Hungary could lift its veto on the opening of Ukraine's EU accession talks if Kyiv accepts to protect minority rights for the Hungarian community in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU is preparing more sanctions against Russia. Angela Skujins speaks to the EU's Sanctions Envoy, David O'Sullivan.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/06/03/europe-today-magyar-softens-on-ukraine-as-eu-prepares-new-russia-sanctions
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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00:14Good morning, it is Wednesday the 3rd of June. I'm Maeve McMahon and this is Europe Today.
00:20Your morning hit of news and analysis from a European lens, live here on Euronews.
00:25Coming up, Iran has agreed to negotiate aspects of its nuclear programme that it had refused to do so just
00:32a month ago.
00:33That's according to the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, speaking before Congress.
00:38Global markets remain on edge though, as Iran says it will suspend peace talks and move towards full closure of
00:44the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes.
00:47And all eyes on the European Commission today as it unveils plans to boost the production of advanced semiconductors within
00:54the EU, so-called chips.
00:56The bloc has long relied on foreign suppliers for some of the most critical technologies that we need for modern
01:02daily life.
01:03The so-called Tech Sovereignty Act aims to change this.
01:06But first, Hungary could lift its veto on the opening of Ukraine's EU accession talks in exchange for an agreement
01:13on minority-right protections for the Hungarian community inside Ukraine.
01:18Such a move would mark a significant step forward in relations between the two neighbours.
01:22And it comes as Ukraine continues to face intense Russian drone attacks with strikes this week, killing over 17 people
01:28and injuring over 100.
01:30For more on this story, our correspondent Sander Zeros joins us now in the studio.
01:35Good morning, Sander. Just tell us, what's the latest on this movement towards a deal?
01:39Good morning. Yes, indeed. Peter Magyar was yesterday in Berlin.
01:43He met Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor.
01:45And the topic of Ukraine's accession was very high on the agenda.
01:50And Magyar said that he's very optimistic.
01:53Now, let's remember that the previous Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, blocked Ukraine's accession for months.
02:00And for years, because he thought that this is a danger for Europe.
02:04And now Magyar is trying to get rid of all of the controversial issues that he inherited from Orbán.
02:10One of them is Ukraine's accession.
02:12Magyar's condition is that Ukraine agrees on the protection of the minority rights, education and culture.
02:21Here we are talking about an 11-point action plan proposed by Hungary.
02:26Magyar said that the talks are advancing.
02:29He's optimistic and he could meet Zelensky next week.
02:33Let's take a look at what he said.
02:36So far, these negotiations are progressing very encouragingly.
02:40We hope that they can even be concluded at a technical level this week.
02:44And I can confirm here, in Berlin, in this wonderful, vibrant city that I'm ready to meet with Ukrainian president,
02:52President Zelensky,
02:53sometime early next week, if we can actually agree on these basic human rights.
03:01Peter Meyer, and of course, today he's moving on to Paris to speak with Emmanuel Macron.
03:05But tell us, Sander, when can the EU start agreeing on starting Ukraine's membership talks?
03:10Well, Euronews spoke to several EU diplomats and all of them were very optimistic.
03:16They are saying that before the next EU summit at the 18th of June, there could be an agreement and
03:22Hungary could lift its veto.
03:24This would mean that Ukraine could start its first negotiating cluster with the European Union, which is about fundamental rights.
03:33Now, there is also one reference about starting the negotiating chapter in the draft conclusions of this European summit,
03:41which is a clear signal that the EU is preparing.
03:44And let's not forget that, you know, Ukraine's accession is very high on the agenda of Antonio Costa,
03:50the head of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
03:55So everyone seems to be on the same side.
03:59And also, this could be a very big step also for Ukraine, because after years of waiting,
04:04they could actually start the negotiations with the EU.
04:07So you're saying everyone could be on the same side?
04:10That's something that rarely happens at those EU summits, Sander Geras.
04:13Thank you so much for that update.
04:15Now, trade and finance ministers from all across the globe are huddling in Paris today for the OECD's annual ministerial.
04:22For the view now from the Australian government on all the challenges facing the world today,
04:26we can cross now to Paris, where we're joined by the Australian Trade and Tourism Minister.
04:31That's Don Farrell, of course.
04:32Good morning, sir. Great to have you with us on Europe today.
04:34You're very welcome.
04:37Good to be talking with you, Maith.
04:40So, look, you're in Paris today for these important talks.
04:43You seem to be edging closer and closer to Europe all the time.
04:46Is that because of the uncertainty of the US administration and the threats perhaps posed by China today?
04:52Look, once we came to government four years ago, pretty much this month,
04:59we had decided that because of problems that we'd had in our trading relationship around the world,
05:06we needed to diversify our trading relationships and not have all our eggs in the one basket, as they say.
05:16And so, over the last four years, we have developed new trading relationships.
05:23The United Kingdom, for instance, we've signed a free trade agreement with them.
05:29That's working really well.
05:30And our trade is up very, very significantly with the United Kingdom.
05:35With India, our trade's almost doubled with India.
05:39Since we reached a trade agreement, we reached an agreement with the UAE again.
05:47That's been very successful.
05:49And now, most recently, the hardest of them all was a free trade agreement with the Europeans.
05:56But we signed that a few weeks ago in Sydney.
06:00You did indeed.
06:00It's always complicated, isn't it, when it comes to the European Union?
06:03But this all happens as well in a backdrop of potential prolonged instability in the Middle East
06:08that potentially could push the global economy closer to recession.
06:11Tell us what's your view here, especially bearing in mind that you're in Paris today at these talks,
06:15and how this war is impacting the Australian economy.
06:19Yeah, look, there's no doubt, Maeve, that that'll be a hot topic that we'll be discussing over the next few
06:27days.
06:29My job in particular, since this war began, was to ensure that Australia had enough fuel,
06:35whether it be petrol, diesel or airline fuel, and fertiliser for our crops.
06:41So I've been very focused on travelling around the world to ensure that we've got sufficient of all of those
06:49products.
06:49So I've been in Singapore, I've been in China, I've been in Japan, and of course now I'm here in
06:54Paris.
06:56We want to ensure that however long these troubles in the Middle East last,
07:03that we've got sufficient of all of those fuels to keep our industry going.
07:08It's very important for our farmers, very important for our miners.
07:11Very similar talks taking place in Brussels and other talks that took place here in Brussels just last Friday.
07:16Very urgent talks on how to deal with China.
07:19What would Australia's advice be here?
07:21How can Brussels learn from your example of dealing with Beijing?
07:26Well, patience is a good first start with the Chinese.
07:32When I became the Trade Minister four years ago, we had $20 billion worth of trade impediments with China.
07:42Now, you've got to put that in perspective.
07:44China is our largest trading partner.
07:46And at the time, trade was worth about $330 billion, two-way trade between Australia and China.
07:54But we set about to stabilise our relationship.
07:58We'd had a very rocky relationship, the previous government, and to win back all of that trade.
08:05And it took us three years.
08:08We didn't get it fixed overnight.
08:10But by the end of our last term in government, we had resolved all of those trade impediments.
08:16And for most of the products that had been subject to those impediments, we were now actually selling more than
08:24before the impediments were imposed.
08:26OK, so I'll pass that message on to EU leaders.
08:28They need some patience.
08:29Just finally, do you consider China your biggest military threat?
08:32And are you also focused on tech sovereignty like the European Union is doing today by presenting a master plan?
08:38Well, we'd like to see peace in our region, Maeve.
08:43And when you look around the world, there's plenty of trouble spots around the world, whether it be the Middle
08:50East or in Europe.
08:52One of the things that we've been very focused on is, as a middle power in the region, is ensuring
09:00that we project our policies of a peaceful region.
09:04And that's been very good for Australia in recent months, particularly with the troubles around the rest of the world.
09:12We've been able to continue pretty much uninterrupted our trade relationships.
09:17And that's the way we'd like to keep it.
09:19OK, Minister Don Farrell, thank you so much for joining us this morning live here on Euronews on Europe Today.
09:25Now, moving on.
09:26In the meantime, the European Union is preparing its 21st package of sanctions against Russia.
09:31But its chief engineer, David O'Sullivan, has already touted he does not expect the bloc to go harder on Russian
09:38oil due to the ongoing war in the Middle East driving up crude.
09:42China, on the other hand, is always in his line of sight.
09:45For more, we're joined by our defence correspondent, Angus Gugins, who actually sat down with the EU's sanction envoy to
09:50discuss the package in detail.
09:51Good morning.
09:52Tell us, what should we look out for in this next bundle of measures?
09:55Good morning, Maeve.
09:56So, officially, unfortunately, everything is under wraps for now.
09:59But what I can say is that EU heads of state want the bloc to put the pedal to the
10:03metal and get ready with this 21st sanctions package because it's needed now.
10:08This was underscored by a drone incursion in Romania last week, demonstrating Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine,
10:16as well as the impact and the spillover effects this is happening, occurring across the bloc.
10:21Now, all eyes will also be on the new Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, who takes a less friendly stance
10:27towards the Kremlin compared to his predecessor, Viktor Orban.
10:31Many are hoping to see that this sanctions package will have more bite to it.
10:35A major point of contention will be whether the EU moves forward with its maritime service ban on those Russian
10:41oil tankers this previously flopped due to a veto by Malta and Greece.
10:46This also will be looking out for whether the EU continues to go harder on Chinese companies helping Russia circumvent
10:54EU sanctions.
10:55As you rightly pointed out, I sat down with the EU's sanction envoy, David O'Sullivan, to talk to him about
11:00this suite of measures.
11:01And I started by asking him first about how that crackdown was faring, particularly as some of these Chinese companies
11:08produce the components found in Russian drones.
11:11We recently listed some, I mean, in a previous package, some Chinese banks who then agreed to discontinue funding Russian
11:20activities.
11:21So we have been active in taking action against Chinese companies.
11:27But I won't hide from you that China remains a very big problem for the circumvention of our sanctions.
11:33How big?
11:33Well, it's it's one of the biggest sources of circumvention, both in terms of what we call backfilling.
11:41This means simply selling Chinese versions of goods which we previously sold as Europeans.
11:47So, you know, things like household goods and so forth, which is, of course, perfectly legitimate, but also, unfortunately, as
11:53a platform for the re-export from China of Western branded goods and EU branded goods.
12:00So this is still a problem. We raise it regularly at the highest level with the Chinese authorities.
12:05But, you know, their answer, which is to say that they don't feel they're doing anything wrong.
12:09So we still have to take a unilateral action against Chinese companies and financial institutions.
12:15But they've also retaliated following the 20th package of sanctions.
12:19China responded by banning at least seven European defense companies from receiving certain dual use products.
12:25Should we expect more reprisals from Beijing?
12:28I think the Chinese play hardball, as the Americans say, and I think we have to face up to that,
12:35that if we want to take action, they will also take equal action.
12:42But I think it is very important, nonetheless, that we continue to be able to send a strong message that
12:47we are vigilant about efforts to circumvent our sanctions and that where we see the evidence, we will take action.
12:53On the 20th package of sanctions, there was also the proposal from the Commission for the full ban on maritime
12:59services for Russian tankers as part of the country's shadow fleet.
13:04The understanding was that there should be approval first at the G7.
13:08Now, those leaders will meet later this month in Evian.
13:11Do you expect a breakthrough?
13:12I think events in the Gulf have clearly changed the calculus about anything to do with energy.
13:20For the moment, what all Western economies are struggling with is access to energy at reasonable prices.
13:27The price has gone up.
13:29And there is scarcity of supply also in the area, for example, of refined products, so diesel, jet fuel and
13:36so forth.
13:37So I think at this point, there is no appetite to take additional measures which might aggravate that situation.
13:44But I think the fundamental point, Angie, is that, you know, our sanctions on the energy side are having a
13:49huge impact on Russia.
13:51Russia's revenue has gone down.
13:52The public finances are in great difficulty.
13:55They're in deficit.
13:56So I think notwithstanding the fact that we may not move forward in the short term on the maritime services
14:01ban,
14:02everything that we have done, whether it's the oil price cap, whether it's the actions against the shadow fleet,
14:07all of this has contributed to seriously undermining Russia's revenue from hydrocarbon exports.
14:15And this was one of our key objectives.
14:16And it is working.
14:20Aranja Skudin's there with David O'Sullivan.
14:22But moving on now to the Middle East, in signs that peace talks have made very little political progress,
14:28the U.S. and Iran have launched fresh strikes.
14:30Despite claims from the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, that a deal was within reach,
14:35the reality on the ground looks different.
14:37For more of your news, Stefan Kobe joins me now here in the studio.
14:41Good morning, Stefan.
14:41Good morning, Maeve.
14:42It's getting very hard to follow all these mixed messages.
14:45Please enlighten us.
14:46Yeah, well, absolutely, Maeve.
14:48Donald Trump likes to call himself the master of the deal.
14:52But when it comes to a ceasefire with Iran, it's really hard to tell what exactly he is negotiating for.
15:00One day, Trump says peace is within reach.
15:03The next day, he sounds pessimistic.
15:05Then he suggests the breakthrough could happen any moment.
15:08A few hours later, he appears to lower expectations again.
15:12Now, for America's allies, financial markets, and certainly Iran, deciphering Donald Trump's latest position has become a full-time job.
15:22Now, Trump would argue that's exactly the point.
15:25Unpredictability has always been a part of his brand.
15:29You know, keep everyone guessing and you keep the upper hand.
15:33But there is, of course, another way of looking at it.
15:36Now, critics say the shifting messages reveal a deeper problem.
15:40And it's not strategic ambiguity, but strategic uncertainty.
15:45They argue that the White House has no plan and is trying to find a solution sort of on the
15:49fly.
15:50So every new Trump statement is now scrutinized for clues.
15:55Is he signaling a breakthrough, preparing the ground for a compromise, or is he just changing course again?
16:02So that's the challenge with Trump's diplomacy.
16:06The line between negotiating tactic and confusion is sometimes not visible, Maeve.
16:13And certainly keeping you very busy.
16:14And, of course, we can read more of your analysis on yournews.com, Stefan Kobe.
16:18Thanks for that.
16:19And due to this, of course, oil prices have been incredibly volatile again this week
16:23because of the uncertainty around supplies getting through Hormuz and prolonged holdups.
16:27For more on the impact on financial markets and energy prices, we're joined now by Osama Rizvi.
16:32He's an international economic and energy analyst.
16:35So good morning, Osama.
16:36Welcome to Europe Today.
16:37So first question, are markets reacting rationally, do you think, to the risks right now?
16:42Or do you think investors are underestimating how serious this could become?
16:46Well, thank you so much for having me today.
16:48I think it's a bit of both.
16:50When you see the markets, there seems to be a continuum on which the reactions can be purged upon.
16:57For instance, the oil markets.
16:59Look at the oil markets.
17:00A few weeks ago, the difference between the physical markets and the paper markets was huge.
17:06The spread was somewhere around $36 to $38.
17:08But now, as we speak today, that spread seems to be shrinking.
17:12But is the conditions or the circumstances better now?
17:15Are the circumstances better now?
17:16Not at all.
17:17So which means that markets are sort of divided, confused.
17:22They are in a haze as to what will happen next.
17:25And this confusion, uncertainty is what is fueling this dual behavior, I would say.
17:31But moving forward, one thing is very important to understand that fundamentally speaking, from oil markets to the financial markets,
17:37the chances of both turning ugly or things getting worse are unfortunately more than them getting better before.
17:44And you said the markets are feeling confused.
17:46What about consumers?
17:47How concerned should consumers, should we be, about fuel prices rising further at the pumps?
17:52Well, consumers have been very clear about what is going around and also been very clear in terms of their
18:00future confidence regarding the global economy.
18:03For instance, economic confidence in Europe is down.
18:06When you look at the U.S., it's at the U.S.-Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is down to multi-years
18:12low.
18:13You look at the cost, input cost, especially in Europe, it has increased to a four-year high.
18:19Similarly, you know, you look at across the consumer centers, I think it's showing confusion.
18:26It's all very gloomy, isn't it, Osama Rizvi?
18:28But thank you so much for joining us this morning and bringing us all your analysis.
18:32And now, as you heard earlier, EU leaders are still scratching their heads about how to prepare for increasing drone
18:37incidents along the EU borders.
18:39For more on what's at stake, here's our Jakubianus.
18:44If you think this is how war sounds, your reporter has bad news for you.
18:49Things have changed and you should be more wary of this sound.
18:55After last week's Russian drone crash into Romanian apartment block, Moscow offered no apologies.
19:01Instead, Russia's Deputy Security Council chairman, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a chilling threat.
19:06He warned that because European governments supply weapons to Kyiv,
19:10the citizens of EU states will not be able to sleep peacefully.
19:14So how can Europeans defend themselves from drones?
19:17The EU has an action plan on drone security, but a leaked document from last week reveals how member states
19:23actually plan to put it into practice,
19:26focusing on three key areas.
19:28Number one is stricter identification.
19:31The bloc wants tighter registration rules so authorities can instantly tell a harmless civilian drone from a hostile threat.
19:38And second is smarter detection.
19:40Member states wants to use advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to spot incoming drones near critical infrastructure.
19:47And lastly, we have intelligence sharing.
19:50Brussels wants to act as a central hub for coordinating data across the continent.
19:55But here we have a little problem.
19:57National governments insist this sharing must remain strictly voluntary to protect classified information
20:03and avoid duplicating NATO's efforts.
20:06So let's go back to our drone case in Romania.
20:09The Ministry of Defense acknowledged it could not shoot down the drone due to its proximity to people's homes.
20:14And authorities had just four minutes to act.
20:17And as long as the drone security remains primary and national competence,
20:21European governments will operate in silos and citizens will see the consequences.
20:26The Baltic region was rattled by at least six suspected incursions in May alone,
20:31with one incident even forcing Lithuanian president to take shelter underground.
20:35So yes, the EU is trying to work together on securing its skies.
20:39But with threats from Russia, it must build a truly unified defense before it's too late.
20:50And that brings this edition of Europe Today to an end.
20:53Thank you so much for your company.
20:54As always, you can always reach out at europetoday at euronews.com.
20:57But in the meantime, stay tuned to us here at Euronews and see you soon.
21:43Euronews and see you soon.
21:45Euronews and see you soon.
21:47Euronews and see you soon.
21:51You
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