Chances of dialogue with Hungary on Ukraine's accession to EU - Official
Ukraine sees opportunities for dialogue and solutions with Hungary (GettyImages)
Discussions with partners on the start of negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the EU are ongoing. With the support of 26 member countries, there is no doubt about Ukraine's commitment to reforms, according to Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
As Stefanishyna noted, there is currently a bilateral dialogue between Hungary and Ukraine regarding the latter's EU membership.
During the recent meeting between the Vice Prime Minister for Eurointegration and the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, key issues were discussed, particularly regarding ensuring the rights of persons belonging to national minorities and the agreement to work together on implementing relevant decisions.
"In view of the above, Ukraine sees no objective reasons for blocking the decision to open membership negotiations," Stefanishyna said.
The Vice Prime Minister for Eurointegration acknowledges that there is an understanding that the agenda of the European Council meeting includes a wide range of issues, and Hungary's position is determined not only by Ukraine.
"There are opportunities for dialogue and finding a solution to open negotiations today," she concluded.
EU leaders summit
On December 14 and 15, the leaders of the European Union will hold a summit. European leaders will decide on the prospects of integration for Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.
According to media reports, Hungary will block anything related to supporting Ukraine. Therefore, the summit may extend until December 16.
While in Argentina, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was able to talk to the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, on the eve of the EU leaders' summit. According to the Ukrainian leader, the conversation was candid and concerned the European affairs of both states.
In addition, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, met with his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjártó, for the first time since the full-scale invasion.
After the meeting, the Ukrainian minister said that Ukraine had received an unofficial and undisclosed positive signal from Budapest about starting negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
