Ukraine's official: There are currently opportunities for dialogue with Hungary on Ukraine's EU accession

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine.

According to Stefanishyna, a bilateral dialogue between Hungary and Ukraine on the latter's membership in the EU is currently underway.

During the last meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, key aspects were discussed, including guaranteeing the rights of persons representing national minorities and agreeing on joint measures to implement relevant decisions.

According to Stefanishyna, at the same time, 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.

"Today, there are opportunities for dialogue and finding a solution to open negotiations," she summarized.

What is known on Ukraine's accession to the EU

On February 28, 2022, Ukraine applied to the European Union for immediate accession under a special procedure. On June 23, 2022, Ukraine was granted candidate status for accession to the EU.

In May, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine should be ready to join the EU in two years – the country expects to receive a political decision to start accession negotiations this year.

On October 26, Stefanishyna expressed confidence that Ukraine would be able to reach a good political decision on joining the EU in December. 

During a speech in parliament on Constitution Day, President Zelenskyy proposed five points of the Ukrainian Doctrine for discussion.

On October 28, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the leaders of the European Union, calling for unity in the decision to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. On October 31, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba assured that Ukraine would start negotiations on joining the EU this year, barring force majeure. And on November 4, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was not asking for "concessions" on its way to EU membership.

As of early November, the European Commission considered four of the seven criteria for granting Ukraine the status of candidate for EU membership to be fully met.

On November 8, the European Commission released a report documenting Ukraine's progress and recommending that the process of negotiating Ukraine's accession to the EU begin.

On November 27, Zelenskyy spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He said that Ukraine would fulfill all the recommendations to start accession negotiations before the December meeting of the European Council, including those related to the rights of national minorities and strengthening anti-corruption institutions.

On December 8, the President of Ukraine signed four European integration laws: the signing took place on the same day as the Verkhovna Rada's adoption. Subsequently, the Verkhovna Rada voted to appeal to European states and institutions to support the opening of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU at a meeting of the European Council on December 15.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine is successfully moving forward on the path of European integration and is fighting hard for European values, so Ukraine's membership in the EU will mean its final victory.

Subsequently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he believed Ukraine was not ready for EU membership, but would not block the start of accession talks. At the same time, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for negotiations to begin by the end of 2023.

On November 13, members of the European Parliament called on the Council of Europe to decide on the start of negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the EU at its meeting on December 14-15.