Budapest and Kyiv reach an agreement on minority rights, a key step towards Ukraine's EU accession
Budapest and Kyiv reach an agreement on minority rights, a key step towards Ukraine's EU accession

Hungary and Ukraine have reached an important agreement regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, a step that could unlock part of the discussions on Kyiv's European integration, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Wednesday.

According to his statements, this agreement could allow the opening of the first chapter of Ukraine's accession negotiations with the European Union. This issue is one of the most sensitive points in the enlargement process, as the question of national minorities is a regular source of tension between Budapest and Kyiv.

The Hungarian minority in Ukraine, mainly concentrated in the Transcarpathian region, has been a point of contention between the two countries for several years. Budapest is demanding stronger guarantees regarding the use of the Hungarian language and the cultural and educational rights of this population.

At the same time, Peter Magyar clarified in a Facebook post that his government did not support accelerating Ukraine's accession negotiations with the European Union. This position illustrates Budapest's continued cautious stance despite the announced diplomatic progress.

This agreement comes amid broader, complex discussions surrounding EU enlargement, with several member states expressing reservations about the pace and conditions of Ukraine's integration.

For Kyiv, these negotiations represent a major strategic issue, as accession to the European Union has been seen as a central political and security objective since the beginning of the war with Russia.

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