Ukraine's path to European Union membership hit another roadblock on Tuesday, as Hungarian diplomats declined to support the opening of new negotiation clusters. According to reports in the Ukrainian press, the move stalls progress on Cluster 2, which covers internal market rules, and Cluster 3, which deals with competition regulations.
Hungary did not apply the same veto to Moldova, whose accession process is being handled jointly with Ukraine. That allowed Cluster 3 to be opened for Chisinau. However, other member states remain committed to their earlier decision that the two countries' accession tracks should advance in parallel, meaning Ukraine's delay also holds back Moldova's momentum.
The Hungarian government has made its support conditional on Kyiv guaranteeing the rights of the Hungarian-speaking minority in Ukraine. Budapest has repeatedly raised concerns about education, cultural, and linguistic rights, and last week it again voted against progress on the Ukrainian file. The issue has been a persistent irritant in bilateral relations, and EU leaders have backed Hungary's position in principle.
Talks continue over minority protections
Over the summer, Ukrainian and Hungarian officials held discussions on the matter. Kyiv has now undertaken to ensure the educational, cultural, and linguistic rights of its Hungarian-speaking population. According to a statement on Monday from Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, progress is being made: work has begun on drafting new education legislation.
“We see that the Ukrainian side is moving in the right direction,” Orbán said, though she stopped short of signalling an immediate change in Hungary's stance. The new law, once prepared, would need to be assessed by Budapest and Brussels before any further steps in the accession process can be considered.
The veto is the latest in a series of Hungarian actions that have complicated EU decision-making on Ukraine. Earlier this year, Budapest expelled ten Russian diplomats over what it called “unacceptable” activities, a move that was seen as a rare alignment with EU positions. Yet on accession, Hungary has consistently used its leverage to extract concessions.
Some analysts see a link between Hungary's stance and its broader relationship with the EU. The European Parliament has been moving closer to ending the Article 7 procedure against Hungary, which was launched over concerns about rule of law. A resolution on that front could change the dynamics, but for now Budapest appears determined to keep the pressure on Kyiv.
Ukraine's government, meanwhile, is juggling multiple challenges. The country's top prosecutor recently resigned as a corruption probe targeted his office, and the winter months are expected to bring renewed Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The UK has pledged £100 million for air defence, including Patriot systems, but the broader funding picture remains uncertain.
For Kyiv, the EU accession process is a key strategic goal, and each delay is a setback. The government has repeatedly said it is committed to meeting all requirements, including those related to minority rights. But the pace of reform is slow, and the Hungarian veto adds another layer of complexity.
Diplomats in Brussels note that the parallel-track approach for Ukraine and Moldova was meant to signal solidarity, but it also means that one country's problems can hold back the other. Some member states are quietly questioning whether that linkage is wise, though no formal proposal to decouple the two processes has been made.
In the meantime, the EU is watching closely as Ukraine prepares its new education law. The legislation will be a test of whether Kyiv can satisfy Budapest's demands without alienating other member states or domestic critics. The coming weeks will show whether the two sides can find common ground, or whether the veto will continue to stall Ukraine's European journey.
