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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary to allow Ukrainian grain to transit their territory because of a Russian blockade in the Black Sea, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Saturday.
"Zelenskyy asked Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and all neighbouring countries to allow transit, as they had three or four years ago at the start of the war," Magyar told broadcaster RTL.
About 90% of Ukraine's wheat, corn and sunflower seed exports normally go through the Black Sea, where Russian attacks have nearly halted shipments from Ukrainian ports, threatening global food supplies.
Magyar, who agreed with Zelenskyy on Friday to reset Ukraine-Hungary ties, said he would not object as long as the grain only passes through Hungary to other destinations.
"He mentioned to me during our one-on-one meeting that it would help them a lot if they could transport maize in sealed trains to Western Europe," Magyar said, adding, "I said as long as it merely transits the country, there would be no obstacle."
Magyar, who succeeded Viktor Orban, also expressed full solidarity with Ukraine over what he called "inhuman Russian aggression," though he has said Hungary will not send arms to Kyiv.
Speaking on his flight home from the EU summit, he said EU funds earmarked for Hungary rose by more than €1 billion ($1.1 billion) and that he received a favorable pledge to scrap a €1 million daily fine over migration.
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The EU’s maize harvest is forecast at 50.1 million metric tons this year, a near two-decade low, after record heat and drought hit farmers in France and Hungary, the European Commission said in August.
Türkiye said this week it delivered a proposal to Russia and Ukraine to keep the Black Sea out of the war, as attacks on merchant ships spread to Romanian and Bulgarian waters.
Wheat futures fell 12.7% in September to $6.75 per bushel, the sharpest monthly drop since June 2024, amid Russia-Ukraine peace prospects, a weaker-than-expected El Nino and a stronger dollar.
"Along with the El Nino effect being weaker than expected, a short-term weakening of U.S. wheat exports and concerns over a global economic growth slowdown are among the main drivers pulling wheat prices down," commodities expert Zafer Ergezen said, as Ukraine looks to overland routes for its grain.
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