Election of new Hungarian government in April has paved way for EU member states to agree to open talks
Ukraine and Moldova will take a decisive step towards joining the EU on Monday, as they embark on the first phase of membership negotiations.
The start of substantive negotiations, launched by senior EU officials and ministers from both countries in Luxembourg on Monday, will be a highly symbolic moment for the two countries that were both part of the former Soviet Union. It comes after Russia has intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities, while sustaining huge losses for little territorial gain.
Ukraine and Moldova were quickly accepted as EU candidate countries in 2022, having filed applications days after Russia’s full-scale invasion. But despite a symbolic decision to open talks in June 2024, substantive negotiations were blocked by Hungary’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Orbán.
I worry for Moldova, that Russia would take them as some sort of consolation prize for not getting what they want in Ukraine.
The departure of Orban is such a fresh breeze for EU, I hope we’ll see many more positive developments.
Can Ukraine and Hungary just be swapped?
Hungary has a new government and they seem to try and undo some of the damage Orban has caused.
You do know that Orban got kicked out of government earlier this year?
