EU moves forward with accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova

All European Union member states have reached a consensus to begin formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. The process involves examining the first cluster of negotiating chapters, which focuses on the rule of law and democratic standards. The Cypriot presidency of the EU announced that preparations are underway to officially launch these talks. Simultaneously, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar reported reaching an agreement with Kyiv regarding the rights of the approximately 100,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine. This long-standing issue had previously led the Hungarian government to exercise a veto on Ukraine's integration process. While the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed the progress via social media, reports indicate that specific details of the agreement with Hungary remain subject to implementation. Hungary expects Ukraine to further modify its minority action plan, after which Budapest will fully consent to the initial negotiating topics. This development marks a significant shift in diplomatic relations compared to the stance held by former Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán.