Hungary's new leadership won't hinder Ukraine's EU accession - Politico

Hungary will not block Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, which will allow official membership negotiations to begin in the coming days. Politico reported this, citing its own sources.

Four unnamed diplomats told the publication that Hungary’s new leadership has privately indicated it is ready to lift its veto following a meeting on Monday between Ukrainian and Hungarian experts on the issue of minority rights for Hungarians living in Ukraine.

However, one Hungarian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that no decision had yet been made regarding the opening of clusters for Ukraine.

“Negotiations are ongoing. No agreement has been reached,” he said.

One of the diplomats reported that during the meeting, the Ukrainian side provided assurances on how to resolve most of the issues outlined in the 11-point plan, originally drafted under Hungary’s former leadership. Not all of Budapest’s demands can be met immediately, but, he added, approval does not depend on the adoption of new legislation in Ukraine.

He also stated that EU ambassadors will finalize their position on opening the first cluster for Ukraine and Moldova by the end of this week. Prior to that, Ukraine will present its plans for domestic reforms, as well as solutions to issues concerning minorities.

Following this, the EU will approve the opening of the cluster for Ukraine and Moldova at an intergovernmental conference on June 15.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in late May, the Financial Times wrote, citing its own sources, that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s insistence on Ukraine’s immediate accession to the European Union had led to heightened tensions in relations with European leaders.

We also reported that in April, France and Germany called for granting Ukraine “symbolic” EU membership without voting rights or access to the European budget.

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