After Hungary Lifted the Veto... Resumption of Ukraine's EU Accession Talks on Monday

SadaNews - The European Union announced that it will resume accession talks for Ukraine to join the bloc next Monday, following Hungary's lifting of the veto imposed by its former pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint post on social media late Friday that "all member states have agreed to launch the initial accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova."

This announcement came after the new Hungarian government agreed to drop the veto imposed by Orbán, who lost the elections held last April, on Ukraine's membership in the bloc.

Costa and von der Leyen stated that this "recognizes the determination, courage, and hard work shown by the two countries in advancing the reforms, even while facing immense challenges."

They added that "the expansion of the (bloc) is a strategic choice. In a world marked by increasing uncertainty, having a larger European Union serves our common interest."

Ukraine's EU membership negotiations were officially launched in June 2024, beginning a complex and detailed process that typically takes years and involves negotiations on all files from agriculture to the rule of law.

This step was largely symbolic, aiming to demonstrate strong support for Ukraine following the Russian military operation in Kyiv in 2022.

Orbán, whose government was close to Russia and strongly opposed to granting Ukraine EU membership, had been obstructing progress in the accession process.

New Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Márki-Zay reached an agreement with Kyiv regarding the rights of the Hungarian ethnic minority in Ukraine, a file that has long been a stumbling block in relations between the neighboring countries.

However, Márki-Zay emphasized at the same time that Hungary does not support following a fast-track procedure for Ukraine's accession to the 27-member EU.