EU to Launch Formal Accession Talks with Ukraine and Moldova as Hungary Lifts Veto

The European Union will officially launch membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova next week, marking a historic milestone in the bloc's eastward expansion. At a meeting in Brussels on Friday, ambassadors from the 27 EU member states agreed to convene an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg on Monday to formally open the talks.[1][3]

The diplomatic breakthrough comes after Hungary's newly elected government lifted a 17-month veto that had frozen Kyiv's integration process. The blockade was originally imposed by former nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintained close ties with Moscow and bitterly opposed Ukrainian accession before his government was ousted in April 2026.[3][4]

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the agreement in a joint statement, framing the expansion as a strategic necessity. "This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges," the leaders noted, adding that a larger union is in Europe's common interest amid growing global uncertainty.[1][3]

Monday's proceedings will initiate the "fundamentals" section of the accession process. This first phase focuses on aligning the candidate countries' foundational legislation with EU standards, particularly concerning the rule of law, democratic institutions, and anti-corruption measures. It represents the first of six negotiating clusters that collectively encompass 33 distinct policy areas.[3][4]

The path to Monday's summit was cleared after intensive negotiations between Kyiv, Brussels, and Budapest. Hungary's new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, who took office in May, agreed to drop the veto in exchange for a comprehensive agreement regarding the ethnic Hungarian minority living in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia region.[1][5]

Magyar had previously insisted that his government would not support the launch of negotiations until the rights of the Hungarian community were fully restored. The resulting compromise provides expanded guarantees for language rights, education, and cultural preservation, resolving an issue that had long been a primary friction point between the neighboring nations.[3][4][5]

Despite lifting the immediate blockade, Magyar has made it clear that Budapest will not support any expedited timeline for Kyiv's membership. The Hungarian leader emphasized that the standard, rigorous accession procedures must be followed without exception.[3]

Furthermore, Magyar has projected that successfully closing all 33 accession chapters will likely take Ukraine between 10 and 15 years. He has also indicated that Hungary intends to hold a national referendum on Ukraine's final admission to the bloc once the negotiation process concludes.[3]

For Ukraine and Moldova, the formal opening of talks represents far more than economic integration; both capitals view EU membership as a critical, long-term security guarantee against Russian aggression. The two nations were granted candidate status in June 2022, a largely symbolic gesture of solidarity following Russia's full-scale invasion, but the transition to formal negotiations signals concrete institutional alignment.[1][3][4]

Moscow has consistently opposed the eastward expansion of Western institutions. The Kremlin maintains that exerting influence over its "near abroad"—a term it uses for post-Soviet states—is a fundamental requirement for Russian national security.[1]

The diplomatic thaw in Budapest is also yielding immediate material benefits for Kyiv's defense. Alongside the accession agreement, Hungary's new government has lifted its veto on the European Peace Facility (EPF), a mechanism used to reimburse EU member states for weapons supplied to Ukraine.[2][6]

The EPF blockade had previously trapped billions of euros in unpaid reimbursements. Unlocking these funds is expected to provide positive reinforcement for member states that have depleted their own military stockpiles to support Ukraine, potentially accelerating the procurement of critical air defense systems.[2][6]

While Monday's conference in Luxembourg will be celebrated as a historic victory in Kyiv and Chisinau, European diplomats caution that the hardest work lies ahead. The accession process is notoriously complex, requiring candidate countries to overhaul vast sectors of their economies and legal systems, from agricultural regulations to judicial independence.[3]