Hungary has officially blocked the launch of two key clusters of negotiations regarding Ukraine's accession to the European Union. This decision has become a serious obstacle to Kyiv's integration and has caused a wide resonance in Brussels.

Which negotiations have been halted?

According to sources, Budapest has postponed the opening of the second and third negotiation blocks. These clusters are fundamental to Ukraine's future membership, as they concern:

  • Integration into the EU single market;
  • Issues of economic and social policy.

Without progress in these areas, the accession process effectively comes to a standstill, despite the political will of other member states.

Position of the new government in Hungary

The team of the new Hungarian leader, Peter Magyar, is demanding that the accession procedures for Ukraine not be accelerated. A representative of the Hungarian government stated that Budapest opposes any "accelerated procedure" for Kyiv.

The official argument is that Ukraine should not receive more favorable conditions than the Western Balkan countries, which have been meeting accession requirements for years. In the opinion of the Hungarian side, standards must be uniform for all candidates.

Reaction of European diplomats

The situation is causing concern in Brussels. One EU diplomat described this delay as a "temporary obstacle" that will likely be overcome. However, European officials are already warning that maintaining Hungary's support will now likely require direct political intervention at the highest level.

Financial Times notes that Budapest's recent actions indicate the Hungarian authorities' unwillingness to completely abandon the previous policy towards Ukraine pursued by Viktor Orbán.

Context: postponed summit and asylum issue

It is worth noting that the Hungarian Prime Minister initially opposed accelerating Ukraine's accession to the EU. Moreover, the long-announced summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has still not taken place.

In addition to membership issues, Peter Magyar has gone against the EU on the issue of asylum for Ukrainian men. It was previously reported that the European Union is reviewing mechanisms for the temporary protection of Ukrainians, and Hungary's position on this issue also remains tough.