Hungary Lifts Veto to Open EU Talks for Ukraine, Moldova

The European Union has agreed to launch the first cluster of accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova, ending a deadlock that lasted since June 2024. The breakthrough occurred after Péter Magyar, the Prime Minister of Hungary, lifted Budapest's 17-month veto following a comprehensive agreement with Kyiv to expand the linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights of the Hungarian minority in the Transcarpathia region.

Coordinated by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the first negotiating cluster—titled "Fundamentals"—focuses on the rule of law, judicial reform, and democratic governance. EU member states may formally open these talks as early as June 15 during an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg or at a General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on June 16. Ukraine aims to close most negotiation chapters within 18 months to potentially sign a membership agreement by 2027, while Moldova targets a 2028 treaty.

While celebrating the agreement, Magyar clarified that Hungary opposes a fast-track accession process and insists that full membership depend on the completion of all 33 negotiation chapters. He suggested that Hungary could serve as a venue for future peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian officials welcomed the move as a historic milestone, and First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced that all member states had given the green light to proceed.