A ceasefire and peace talks are needed for the reconstruction of Ukraine to begin in earnest, Tibor Tóth, a state secretary of the finance ministry, said after the third ministerial roundtable discussion on support for Ukraine in Washington, DC on Thursday. Hungary was already actively aiding Ukraine before the war, Tóth said, according to a finance ministry statement, noting Hungary’s approval of the European Union’s macro-financial assistance for Ukraine and its support for the local ethnic Hungarian community. Hungary has provided 44.5 billion forints (EUR 118.5m) in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war, Tóth said, noting that the country is undertaking the largest humanitarian aid operation in its history to help the war’s victims. As regards Ukraine’s reconstruction, Tóth said it was also important to take into consideration the development needs of the parts of the country that are less affected by the war, including the region of Transcarpathia. Talks between the World Bank and Ukraine’s neighbouring countries can help coordinate investments and infrastructure developments related to the country’s reconstruction, he said. Tóth is holding talks with IMF and World Bank officials, economists and investors in Washington, the ministry said.