Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary to allow Ukrainian grain to transit through their territories because of difficulties exporting through the Black Sea, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on October 17, according to Reuters.
Magyar said Zelenskyy raised the need for additional export routes during their bilateral meeting at the European Union summit on October 16.
Ukraine, one of the world's largest agricultural exporters, faces serious difficulties shipping grain through Black Sea ports because of continuing Russian attacks.
The Hungarian prime minister said Budapest was prepared to allow Ukrainian grain to transit through Hungary on the condition that it did not enter the country's domestic market.
According to Magyar, Zelenskyy proposed transporting corn in sealed railway cars through neighboring countries to Western Europe.
The proposal therefore concerns the transportation of agricultural products through Hungary for onward export, rather than their sale to Hungarian consumers.
Ukrainian grain imports have previously caused disputes between Kyiv and some neighboring countries. Farmers in Poland, Hungary and other European states have expressed concerns that Ukrainian agricultural products could drive down prices in their domestic markets.
Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine began using overland routes through neighboring countries to maintain its agricultural exports.
Magyar, who succeeded Viktor Orbán as Hungary's prime minister, has adopted a less confrontational approach toward Ukraine. However, he opposes sending Hungarian weapons to Kyiv and has called for the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian minority to be respected.
The account of Zelenskyy's request comes from the Hungarian prime minister. The Ukrainian government has not published a separate document setting out the proposed transit arrangements, and there has been no announcement that all four countries have agreed to the routes.