Hungary's Stance: Ukraine and Moldova's EU Membership Talks Hit a Snag

Hungary has created a new obstacle in Ukraine and Moldova's European Union (EU) membership talks. The Hungarian government vetoed a joint letter that would have opened new negotiating chapters in the membership process. This move is in line with Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's cautious and skeptical attitude towards Ukraine's EU membership. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in early June that all member states had agreed to start "substantial negotiations" with Ukraine and Moldova. Vladimir Zelenskiy welcomed the decision to start membership talks, calling it "a step taken on behalf of Europe" and thanked EU leaders. The EU granted Ukraine and Moldova candidate status in June 2022. However, this process does not guarantee full membership and does not impose a legal obligation on Brussels; it merely marks the beginning of a long and uncertain path. Currently, Turkey has been waiting since 1999, North Macedonia since 2005, Montenegro since 2010, and Serbia since 2012.