Ukraine insists on the formal opening of all six EU negotiation clusters in June, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said during an online briefing on Friday.
He said the clusters – key reform groups that mark the start of full accession talks – should be officially launched next month, stressing this is Kyiv’s “firm position.”
According to Sybiha, Ukraine has already received the required benchmarks, completed the necessary work, and believes its progress merits a positive EU assessment.
He added that a political obstacle previously linked to Hungary’s government has effectively been removed following recent elections.
“We believe that the main political obstacle in the form of the [Viktor] Orbán government has been removed after the elections in Hungary, and we have really reached a state of affairs where diplomacy should and can do its job,” Sybiha said.
He also confirmed preparations for a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, saying the timing and location will be agreed through diplomatic channels. Negotiating teams from both sides have already begun consultations.
Sybiha added that recent Ukraine-Hungary talks involving Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka and Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán lasted more than six hours.
“I have read the report, and we are now internally discussing the results of these negotiations, or consultations. My first conclusion is that progress has definitely been made,” Sybiha said.
Recently, Magyar expressed hope that the series of negotiations will be completed soon, after which a personal meeting with Zelensky could take place.
“As I suggested, we will probably be able to meet with President Zelensky in Berehove in Transcarpathia, where Hungarians make up a significant part of the population,” Magyar added.
Also during the briefing, Sybiha reacted to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal for a special status for Ukraine in the EU, which would envisage “associated membership” for Kyiv, allowing Ukrainian officials to attend EU summits and ministerial meetings but without voting rights.
“Our position is full, full-fledged membership in the EU,” he said, stressing that interim formats cannot replace Ukraine’s strategic objective.
He also rejected the idea of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder acting as a mediator in peace talks.
“It’s definitely not Schröder. And I want to immediately make it clear so that the Russians stop offering Gérard Depardieu, Steven Seagal – I don’t know, maybe they’ll bring in Orbán as their negotiator,” Sybiha said, in a mocking remark about Russian proposals.
He added that the format of representation is still under discussion. Options include a group of countries, a group of leaders, or another separate mechanism.
The key requirement is speed and clearly defined tasks.
“This should not be protracted,” he said.
Sybiha also warned against individual leaders holding separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying such approaches weaken European unity and play into Moscow’s strategy of division.
In his view, Europe must speak with one voice, using tools such as sanctions and frozen Russian assets to strengthen its position in negotiations.
He added that the exact format of European participation in future peace talks is still being discussed with Ukraine, but stressed that any process must be fast, coordinated, and not allowed to drag on.