The breakthrough came after Hungary signaled it would lift its long-standing veto on Ukraine’s membership process.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Budapest is prepared to support Ukraine’s accession once the remaining bilateral issues between the two countries are resolved.
Earlier, Magyar announced that Hungary and Ukraine had reached a “historic agreement” on the rights of Ukraine’s ethnic Hungarian minority, estimated at around 100,000 people—a dispute that has long strained relations between the neighboring countries.
Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, said on X that it has begun preparations to formally open negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova on the first cluster of chapters, focusing on the rule of law, democratic governance, and fundamental rights.
