Ukraine's EU Membership Bid Hits Hungarian Roadblock

Ukraine's European Union membership bid has hit a roadblock due to Hungary's objections, with the opening of two key negotiating chapters delayed until September. Talks have been postponed until September 1 after no consensus was reached in Brussels. Ukraine's path to full EU membership has been delayed until September. According to a report by Ukrainian newspaper Yevropeyska Pravda, citing diplomatic sources, the delay is due to Hungary's stance. The newspaper had previously reported on July 18 that Hungary was blocking two negotiating chapters in Ukraine's accession process. The file was to be revisited at a meeting on July 22 after no consensus was reached among member states. However, the crisis was not resolved at today's meeting of the EU Council Working Group on Enlargement (COELA). The report stated, "Hungary refused to approve the screening results of negotiating chapters 2 and 3 for Ukraine and Moldova at the meeting on Wednesday. The next attempt at an agreement is planned for September 1." Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Madyar had stated earlier in June that after an agreement was reached with Kiev on the restoration of the rights of the Hungarian minority in the Carpathian region, they would no longer block the start of Ukraine's membership talks.