Zelensky downplays rift as Hungary renews EU accession blockade over minority rights
Hungary again began blocking Ukraine's EU accession clusters, asking Kyiv to first implement earlier agreements addressing the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian minority.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the notion of significant obstacles between Ukraine and Hungary regarding minority issues, despite Hungary's recent blockade of Ukraine's EU accession process. The standstill in Ukraine's progress towards membership has been renewed due to Hungary's demands for additional guarantees for the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, as per an agreement reached in the summer.
Zelensky expressed hope that Hungary would remove the blockage once it saw political will from Ukraine's side during a press conference at the Carpathian 8 Summit in Ukraine's Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Ukraine aims to open at least two more accession clusters before October and the remaining two by the end of the year, according to Zelensky.
Hungary's pro-European Prime Minister Peter Magyar has shown a more flexible attitude towards Ukraine's EU accession efforts compared to his predecessor, Viktor Orban. Despite lifting the veto on Ukraine's EU bid following an agreement on Hungarian minority rights, Hungary has refused to grant any shortcuts for Ukraine's accession, insisting that all necessary reforms must be implemented.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
