Hungary delays talks with Ukraine on national minorities

Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice reported the information.

"The Hungarian side has postponed the consultations with the Ukrainian delegation scheduled for May 12. The meeting was supposed to be the start of regular negotiations," the statement says.

Earlier in Budapest, both sides agreed to set up expert groups to work through 11 Hungarian recommendations. The Ukrainian side had expected to see the first interim results by Monday, May 12.

The postponed talks were to take place in Uzhhorod, where the Ukrainian delegation had already arrived.

All 27 EU member states have approved starting talks with Ukraine on joining the bloc — except Hungary, which is still blocking the process.

• Earlier, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said that Ukraine and Hungary would begin regular consultations on May 12 to address all of Budapest’s objections to starting EU talks.
• Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed that Ukraine’s EU membership would supposedly destroy Hungary’s economy. He also said Budapest had spent several billion euros during the three years of war in Ukraine.