Latvia Opposes Splitting Ukraine, Moldova EU Accession Bids
Latvia has reaffirmed its support for keeping Ukraine and Moldova’s EU accession bids inseparable, calling the approach vital for the security of Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a post by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
Ukraine’s PM stated that she discussed the matter with her Latvian counterpart, Evika Siliņa, during a call on Thursday, thanking Riga for its unwavering support of Kyiv.
According to Svyrydenko, Latvia fully endorses President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s position that splitting the two candidates’ accession tracks would undermine regional stability.
The two officials also reviewed ongoing Latvian assistance to Ukraine, including security, defense, and humanitarian aid.
The debate over whether to “decouple” Ukraine and Moldova’s EU applications has gained momentum amid Hungary’s continued veto on opening accession negotiations with Kyiv.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has used the issue in domestic politics, conducting a controversial public survey in which the government claimed 95% of respondents opposed Ukraine’s membership.
Supporters of keeping the bids linked argue it is crucial ahead of Moldova’s autumn parliamentary elections, to avoid weakening President Maia Sandu’s position.
The European Union hopes to overcome Hungary’s blockade after Denmark assumed the rotating presidency of the EU Council, with Copenhagen pledging to exert maximum pressure on Budapest to move the process forward.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Brussels is developing an alternative scenario for negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, bypassing Hungary.