Hungary lifts Ukraine EU veto, opening path to accession talks

Hungary has lifted its two-year-long veto on Ukraine's bid to join the European Union, ending a political impasse that had severely strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv. The breakthrough came Wednesday evening during a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels, where Hungary's envoy dropped its reservations, allowing all 27 member states to unanimously approve the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar confirmed the deal in a Facebook post, announcing that Hungary and Ukraine had reached a comprehensive agreement on minority rights, including the restoration of schools for ethnic Hungarians, the right to use the Hungarian language in all educational settings, and the ability to display Hungarian national symbols and flags during celebrations. The agreement specifically addresses the rights of approximately 100,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine's Transcarpathia region, where tensions have been highest since Ukraine passed laws mandating the exclusive use of Ukrainian in schools and local government in 2017. Under the new arrangement, Ukrainian authorities will enshrine the minority protections in both domestic legislation and its official EU accession action plan. Magyar stated that 100,000 Hungarians would "get back their fundamental rights," adding that this progress opened the door for Hungary to support opening the first cluster of Ukraine's accession talks, which covers fundamental issues including rule of law, human rights, and the judiciary. However, he emphasized that Hungary does not support accelerated membership talks for Ukraine, suggesting a measured approach to the lengthy accession process. The lifting of the veto marks a dramatic shift in Hungarian policy following Magyar's electoral victory over his Moscow-friendly predecessor Viktor Orban in April. Orban had blocked Ukraine's EU advancement for two years, arguing it would drag the bloc into open war with Russia, damage Hungarian agriculture, and enable corruption. The formal intergovernmental conference launching Ukraine's accession process is expected to take place on June 15 or 16 in Luxembourg. While the breakthrough removes a significant obstacle to Ukraine's European integration, long-term challenges remain, including concerns about corruption, agricultural market disruption, and ongoing skepticism from some EU member states regarding Ukraine's readiness for membership.