Ukraine's Ambassador Says Hungary Not Blocking EU Accession Talks

Kyiv's new ambassador to the European Union, Taras Kachka, told Euronews that Hungary has not introduced new substantive objections to Ukraine's EU accession negotiations. He said the country's position is based on a request for additional time to examine the documents related to the next stage of talks.

Kachka stated that Hungary withheld approval of the screening results for two remaining negotiating clusters during EU Council meetings in October, despite lifting objections to two other clusters earlier that month. He emphasized that the remaining delays are due to reviewing several hundred pages of documentation, not unresolved disagreements.

Ukraine amended its minority education legislation in October, which Kachka confirmed was already being implemented in schools, indicating the issue had been resolved. He also reaffirmed Kyiv's commitment to completing EU accession negotiations by 2027 or 2028, potentially sooner if reforms progress faster.

Kachka noted that Ukraine's sense of urgency differs from that of EU member states due to Russia's ongoing war, with daily attacks and frontline fighting adding pressure to accelerate the process. He acknowledged criticism over delays in adopting EU-related legislation but attributed this to the challenges of legislating during wartime, including interrupted parliamentary sessions.

Kachka reiterated Ukraine's rejection of associate EU membership as an alternative to full accession, arguing that the country remains a frontrunner for full membership. He suggested that associate membership is more suitable for countries seeking closer cooperation without full accession, though he acknowledged proposals for closer ties in areas like defense and finance could be beneficial.

Agriculture remains a major hurdle in Ukraine's accession talks, with Kachka acknowledging its sensitivity. However, he rejected the need for lengthy transitional arrangements or broad restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products entering the EU market, arguing that most goods should not face additional limitations.