Ukraine Ready to Launch EU Accession Talks, Continues Negotiations with Hungary

Ukraine is fully prepared to begin formal accession negotiations with the European Union, including the opening of negotiating clusters, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, The Gaze reports.

Speaking at a press conference, Tykhyi emphasized that Ukraine has met all necessary conditions and believes there are currently no obstacles to launching the next phase of its EU membership process.

“We are ready to open the negotiation clusters. There are no barriers to this step, and it can be done now,” said Tykhyi.

However, Hungary continues to block the start of negotiations, citing political concerns and potential burdens on both the EU and Hungary itself. The Hungarian government has maintained this position since the beginning of 2025.

Tykhyi confirmed that Kyiv is engaged in bilateral dialogue with Budapest to resolve outstanding issues and hopes to return the talks to a constructive path.

“We are working hard with the Hungarian side to resolve all bilateral matters. We are confident that we can achieve this — there is enough political will,” he said.

The Ukrainian official also noted that there is broad support among most EU member states and the European Commission for Ukraine’s progress toward membership.

Ukraine has fulfilled domestic reform obligations and technical preparations, including EU-required screening processes, Tykhyi added. The government remains optimistic about advancing the process despite Hungary’s current position.

As The Gaze previously reported, the European Union is interested in advancing Ukraine's EU accession negotiations, which are currently being blocked by only one country - Hungary. In this context, Denmark is ready to put pressure on Hungary to unblock the negotiation process.

Brussels is developing an alternative scenario for negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, bypassing Hungary - the first steps in its implementation have already been taken.