Kyiv is pressing Brussels to accelerate its European Union accession process by opening all six negotiation clusters in June, rather than the previously indicated July timeline. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka warned that the country is already falling behind schedule.
“We believe that all six clusters can be open already in June,” Kachka said. “Our timeline is that we are already behind the deadline.”
The call comes after European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos suggested that the first cluster could be opened in June, during Cyprus’s rotating EU presidency, with the remaining five following by July under Ireland’s presidency. Each cluster covers key reform areas—from rule of law to judicial reform—that candidate countries must align with EU standards. Final approval requires unanimous consent from all 27 member states.
Hungary’s Veto and Minority Rights Talks
Progress has been stalled by Hungary’s veto policy under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Budapest and Kyiv have long been at odds over the sizable Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s western Transcarpathia region. Resolving this issue is critical to opening the first chapter of Ukraine’s accession talks.
With Hungary’s new government signaling openness to engagement, Brussels hopes for a more constructive stance. Kachka noted that Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán has stated Budapest “will not block anything.” Hungary and Ukraine have launched expert-level talks on minority rights, a tentative step toward improving bilateral relations. For more on these discussions, see Hungary and Ukraine Hold Expert Talks on Minority Rights, Easing EU Accession Path.
Kachka emphasized that Kyiv’s position on minority rights remains unchanged: “Ukraine treats the Hungarian community in Ukraine with full respect. What we offered as well to previous government and we continue to do so with current government is to fine-tune the legislation for everyone to be aware that this incredibly good atmosphere will not change eventually.”
Ukraine’s Readiness and Prejudice Concerns
Kachka argued that three clusters were ready to open a year ago, before Hungary began blocking the process. In March, Brussels informally indicated it would open all six clusters, covering internal reforms, budget, and justice. Kyiv insists the formal opening would not mark a fresh start, as the groundwork is already complete.
“So everything is already done, so that's why we're already behind the schedule,” Kachka said. He also pointed to “a certain prejudice” toward Ukraine regarding the timing of its accession process. “For Ukraine it started like 15 years ago, or even earlier, when we negotiated the association agreement already for many, many years. All the benchmarks that are already defined by the European Union are easily implemented in the forthcoming 12, eight months.”
Ukraine’s broader war effort continues to shape its European trajectory. The country’s drone warfare has forced Germany to rethink battlefield strategy, as reported in Ukraine's drone warfare forces Germany to rethink battlefield strategy.
Rejection of Associate Membership
Kachka also reiterated Kyiv’s rejection of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal to grant Ukraine “associate member” status in the EU without voting rights. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already dismissed the idea, insisting Ukraine is entitled to full membership. For more on this proposal, see Merz's 'Associate EU Membership' Plan for Ukraine Faces Skepticism in Brussels.
“It is unacceptable,” Kachka said, underscoring Ukraine’s determination to secure full integration into the European Union.
