Zelenskyy expected at EU summit amid potential breakthrough in accession talks - Euronews
Kyiv • UNN
Ukraine expects a breakthrough in EU accession negotiations at the June summit. Hungary may lift its veto by June 16 following an agreement on minority rights.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to participate in the June EU summit, the draft conclusions of which mention Ukraine's application for accession to the bloc, signaling a possible breakthrough before the June 18 meeting, Euronews reports, according to UNN.
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The document seen by Euronews, which outlines the conclusions for the upcoming summit of EU leaders, mentions Ukraine's application for accession to the European Union, signaling a possible breakthrough before the meeting of the 27 member states on June 18.
If the text is approved, it will mark a return to unanimity regarding Ukraine following the departure of Viktor Orbán.
"The European Union remains committed, particularly within the framework of Ukraine's path to EU accession, to supporting its recovery, restoration, and reconstruction in coordination with international partners," reads the draft statement dated June 1, seen by Euronews.
An EU official told Euronews that the next European Council is being prepared "on the assumption that this issue will be resolved."
The draft also notes that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to participate in the summit, although it does not specify whether he will participate in person or via teleconference. Ukrainian sources told Euronews that Zelenskyy would only consider a trip to Brussels if an agreement is reached.
According to people familiar with the matter, European Council President António Costa has been actively involved in the negotiations. Marta Kos, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, also added to the confidence regarding the deadline for opening the first cluster of negotiations in June, followed by five more clusters in July, the publication writes.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar signaled, as the publication writes, an "imminent deal" with Kyiv regarding the rights of Hungarian minorities in Ukraine, raising prospects for an agreement that could finally unblock EU accession talks after months of political stalemate.
Speaking to reporters in Berlin after a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Magyar said he was "very optimistic" about resolving the long-standing issue of Hungarian minorities in Ukraine—a sensitive political matter—and pointed to a resolution at the technical level "as early as this week."
"Negotiations are progressing encouragingly," he said. "I am ready to meet with the President of Ukraine early next week if we manage to agree on these fundamental human rights."
His comments came after five diplomats briefed on the matter told Euronews that conditions for a deal have gained momentum, potentially allowing Hungary to lift its veto on Ukraine's accession talks by June 16.
Adding to the positive momentum, Magyar secured the release of €16.4 billion in EU funding last Friday after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
While he dismissed suggestions that the funding and enlargement negotiations were linked, Magyar stated at a press conference that he is waiting for "guarantees" from Ukraine regarding minority rights, indicating that legislative changes might not be necessary.
Lifting Hungary's veto is a prerequisite for opening the first accession cluster, which covers the "fundamentals" of EU membership, including the rule of law, financial control, and basic rights.
"We are making every effort to achieve a breakthrough, and we are focused on moving both countries forward," a senior EU diplomatic source told Euronews, cautioning that it is still too early to predict the final wording of the leaders' statement.
Ahead of the summit, EU officials hope to formally launch the next stage of the enlargement process at the General Affairs Council on June 16. This issue could be resolved by diplomats, although a meeting between Hungary and Zelenskyy is also considered necessary to inaugurate a new political agreement, the publication indicates.
However, before this happens, significant technical work still needs to be completed and approved by the ambassadors of the member states. The Council of the EU will have to initiate the process by sending a letter to Ukraine and Moldova, which will then provide their positions for assessment by European ambassadors.
Only after this can Hungary lift its veto.
"Everyone needs to act quickly," added a senior EU diplomat.