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Hungarian PM Magyar pushes EU to water down stance on Ukraine accession
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- The June 18 EU leaders' summit conclusions on Ukraine's EU accession process were softened due to Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's insistence, removing the phrase "as soon as possible" regarding the opening of remaining enlargement clusters.
- Hungary's position emphasizes that Ukraine must fully adopt all EU rules without shortcuts, reflecting Magyar's approach to representing Hungary more pragmatically than his predecessor, Viktor Orban.
- This change signals a slowdown in the urgency of Ukraine's EU membership prospects, contrasting with President Zelensky's push for fast-track accession during the recent G7 summit.
- Despite the setback, Zelensky remains optimistic about Ukraine's EU integration, affirming confidence that all enlargement clusters will eventually open and that Ukraine deserves membership.
- Magyar's stance suggests a longer timeline for Ukraine's EU accession, potentially 10-15 years, which is significantly more delayed than the expectations of Ukraine and many European allies.
