Hungary holds the key to Ukraine's accession to the European Union. This blockage may last until spring 2026 due to the political stance of the Hungarian government. European partners considered the possibility of proceeding without Hungary's consent, but for now, this remains a topic of conversation.
While the EU acknowledges Ukraine's progress and confirms the country's readiness to commence the negotiation process, the opening of clusters is delayed due to Hungary's veto. Steps towards Ukraine's accession to the EU must be agreed upon by all member states, complicating the situation for the Ukrainian side.
'It has become clear that the negotiations on enlargement are still about a political decision, even though we reiterate that this is a process based on the merits of the candidate country,' European officials clarified.
Since the beginning of the blockage by Hungary and other EU member states, Ukraine has been ready for negotiations, but its path to the European Union is hindered by the political considerations of other state leaders.