Lithuania Urges EU to Bypass Hungary and Advance Ukraine’s Membership
Lithuania is calling on the EU to find a way to bypass Hungary and push forward Ukraine's membership application, as hopes for Budapest to lift its veto are dwindling due to growing tensions between Budapest and Kyiv.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to LRT.
Ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen, Lithuania called on the bloc to take decisive action to make Ukraine's membership application “tangible and irreversible”.
The letter from Vilnius states that the start of negotiations will strengthen the morale of Ukrainians and support for reforms, while inaction could undermine public support and institutional will for change.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is openly critical of Ukraine, continues to block the start of negotiations. Even during Poland's EU presidency in early 2025, no chapter of negotiations could be opened due to Budapest's veto.
The situation has escalated after new diplomatic clashes, in particular over Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies Hungary and Slovakia.
Orbán reportedly even received a call from US President Donald Trump on this issue, but it is unlikely that Budapest will change its position in the near future.
Lithuania has therefore proposed to start technical negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's EU membership without Hungary's participation, if 26 member states vote in favor.
Formal approval may come later if Budapest changes its position or a new government comes to power.
In a letter to EU capitals, Vilnius also reiterated its long-standing call to set 2030 as the target date for Ukraine's accession. According to Lithuanian diplomats, this will help countries plan the necessary reforms, funding, and resources to prepare for membership.
Moreover, Acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stressed that unblocking Ukraine's path is critical to Europe's security.
"Any further delay is geopolitically harmful to both Ukraine and the EU. Ukraine's membership is part of Europe's security guarantees and is necessary for long-term peace and stability," he said.
Lithuania's proposals are expected to be discussed at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen on September 1-2.
At the same time, the European Commission has expressed doubts about the possibility of bypassing the unanimity of the EU Council. Spokesperson Paula Pinho said that unanimous support is required to open any chapter of negotiations, and the final decision on Ukraine will remain with the EU Council.
As The Gaze wrote earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó exchanged sharp words after recent Ukrainian drone attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline.