Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country has urged Hungary to stop blocking Kyiv’s bid to join the European Union, as Brussels backed advancing the war-torn country to the next stage despite corruption concerns.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, presented a series of enlargement reports Tuesday, evaluating the fitness of possible new members, including Ukraine, Serbia and Montenegro. When presenting the reports, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos praised Ukraine for combatting corruption but warned there was more work to do.
Earlier this year, Zelenskyy’s ruling party pushed amendments through parliament that gave the president’s hand-picked general prosecutor the power to transfer cases away from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and reassign prosecutors.
Parliament ultimately voted to restore the independence of the two key anticorruption agencies following some of the biggest protests held in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, as well as pressure from key European officials.
The EU on Tuesday warned Ukraine of “backsliding” on anticorruption efforts, saying only “limited progress” had been made on combatting the issue. The commission noted that the agencies and civil society groups report growing pressure from the state and security services, saying “These developments cast doubts on Ukraine’s commitment to its anticorruption agenda.”
Despite lingering questions on Kyiv’s work to end corruption, Kos told the commission she wants approval for Ukraine and Moldova to press on with formal negotiations.
“We have implemented the widest, the broadest anticorruption infrastructure in Europe,” Zelenskyy told Brussels Tuesday. “And I don’t know about any country who has that many anticorruption authorities. We are doing everything possible.”
Ukraine hopes to conclude accession talks by the end of 2028.
But one big obstacle remains in Ukraine’s path: Hungary’s Russia-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
As Hungary gears up for national elections in 2026, Orban’s staunchly nationalist government has made efforts to block Ukraine’s EU membership a political talking point.
“Let’s be under no illusions: Brussels and Ukraine are jointly building up a puppet government [in Hungary],” Orban said in June. “They want to change Hungary’s policy towards Ukraine after the next elections, or even sooner.”
While Orban initially supported Ukraine’s eventual EU accession shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he’s come to argue that its membership would flood Hungary with crime, cheap labour, and low-quality agricultural products, threatening national sovereignty and economic stability.
“We are at war for our survival, and we would really like the prime minister of Hungary to support us, at least not block us,” Zelenskyy said Tuesday at an event hosted by broadcaster Euronews.
The EU has been criticised for its slow decision-making, with national vetoes wielded by Hungary jamming up the process.
“If the candidate states are delivering, and I have proof with this report that they are delivering, then the EU should deliver, too,” Kos said.
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