Hungary has taken a first step toward easing its blockade of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, agreeing to begin the procedure for opening one of the remaining negotiation clusters after putting Ukraine’s goal of opening all six clusters by mid-July at risk.
According to Polish broadcaster RMF FM, Hungary has agreed to allow the EU to send an official letter to Kyiv and Chișinău, launching the procedure for opening the sixth accession cluster, which covers common foreign and security policy, trade policy, and relations with third countries.
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However, Hungary’s position has only partially softened, as Budapest continues to block the remaining four clusters after refusing in late June to approve similar letters that would have advanced negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
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Formally, Hungary’s decision does not open the sixth cluster but instead allows the procedure required to do so to begin. If the remaining steps proceed without delay, the cluster could officially open on July 14 during a meeting of EU ministers responsible for European affairs.
Despite the partial shift, Hungary continues to block the remaining four clusters. So far, only the Fundamentals cluster, which focuses on democracy, the rule of law and public administration, has been formally opened.
Gradual approach gains support
Hungary may not be the only factor slowing the accession process.
According to RMF FM, officials in Brussels say there is no consensus among EU member states on opening all remaining clusters simultaneously. An increasing number of capitals favor a phased, cluster-by-cluster approach instead of opening all negotiations at once.
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Among the countries supporting a gradual approach is Poland, whose recent diplomatic rift with Kyiv may have influenced its position. Poland has long been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters, providing significant military and financial assistance. However, relations became strained after President Volodymyr Zelensky named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). While Ukraine honors the UPA for its role in the country’s struggle for independence, Poland holds the organization responsible for the massacre of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during World War II.
The dispute further escalated after senior officials in both countries revoked and returned state honors, adding to political tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv.
Despite those disagreements, Poland continues to support Ukraine’s EU membership ambitions while insisting that accession negotiations proceed in stages. Polish officials have repeatedly said Ukraine has fulfilled the technical conditions required to open additional clusters but argue that the enlargement process should follow established EU procedures rather than political considerations.
Ukraine pushes for broader progress
Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to advocate for a faster accession process.
Ukrainian officials say the country has met all technical requirements for opening the remaining clusters and warn that further delays could send the wrong political signal as Ukraine continues to fight Russia’s full-scale invasion while aligning its legislation with EU standards.
Zelensky expressed hope that both Poland and Hungary would ultimately support Ukraine’s path toward EU membership despite the current disagreements over the pace of negotiations.
Several other EU member states, including Finland, have also expressed confidence in Ukraine’s long-term accession prospects while acknowledging that the process is likely to move forward step by step.
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