Published on 6/13/2026
The European Union announced that it will resume talks on Ukraine’s accession to the bloc next Monday, after Hungary lifted the “veto” imposed by its former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
This announcement came after the new Hungarian government agreed to drop the objection of Orban, who is known for his positions close to Russia, and who lost the recent legislative elections.
European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed in a joint post on social media: “All member states have agreed to launch the first accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.”
They said that the step “is an acknowledgment of the determination, courage, and hard work that the two countries have shown in advancing reforms, even while facing enormous challenges.”
They added: “Enlarging the Union is a strategic choice. In a world of increasing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest.”
It is noteworthy that Ukraine’s membership negotiations in the European Union were officially launched in June 2024, beginning a complex and long process that will take several years and include multiple files ranging from agriculture to the rule of law.
Although the move was largely symbolic to show strong support for Kiev following the Russian war on Ukraine in 2022, the move forward was hampered by the Hungarian veto, with Orban significantly obstructing the accession process.
The situation changed after the new Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter Madiar, concluded an agreement with Kiev regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, a file that has long been a stumbling block in relations between the two neighboring countries.
Despite this rapprochement, Madyar stressed that his country does not support following “fast-track” procedures for Ukraine’s accession to the 27-nation bloc.
