Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has thanked Hungary for reportedly giving the “green light” to the opening of two more clusters in Ukraine’s European Union accession negotiations.
Sybiha said on Wednesday that Hungary had supported further steps concerning the second and third negotiating clusters at the level of the EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER).
“Ukraine’s EU accession is moving forward step by step. Ukraine and Hungary are taking steps together towards each other and towards European unity,” Sybiha said.
Ukraine’s EU accession is moving forward step by step.
Ukraine and Hungary are taking steps towards each other and towards European unity together.
These days, a bill aimed at regulating the educational rights of national communities was registered in the Ukrainian Parliament and approved by the relevant parliamentary committee.
Today, at the COREPER level, the Hungarian side gave the “green light” to the negotiating positions on Cluster 2 “Internal Market,” and Cluster 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth”.
Thank you, @_OrbanAnita, for the teamwork, which is at once in the interests of our friendly nations and of a strong Europe.
🇺🇦🇪🇺
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) October 7, 2026
Ukraine thanks Hungary for support
The two clusters concern important areas of Ukraine’s EU accession process. The second cluster covers the internal market, while the third focuses on competitiveness and inclusive growth. Sybiha also specifically thanked Hungary’s Foreign Minister Anita Orbán for her cooperation.
“Thank you, Anita Orbán, for the teamwork, which serves the interests of both our friendly peoples and a strong Europe,” the Ukrainian foreign minister wrote.
The announcement comes amid signs of improving relations between Budapest and Kyiv following a period of particularly tense exchanges between the two countries.
Details: Hungary to stop blocking next stage of Ukraine’s EU accession talks, Financial Times reports
Minority education rights also in focus
Sybiha linked the latest development to a bill recently submitted to the Ukrainian parliament concerning the educational rights of national minorities, including the Hungarian community in Ukraine.
The proposal has already received unanimous support from the relevant parliamentary committee. Ukraine’s parliament is expected to discuss several bills related to European integration and the advancement of the country’s EU accession process on 12 October.
The issue of minority rights, particularly those of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, has long been a sensitive point in relations between Budapest and Kyiv. According to Sybiha, these developments demonstrate that Ukraine and Hungary are taking reciprocal steps towards each other while also supporting Ukraine’s European integration.
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Hungary has not yet officially confirmed the move
There is, however, an important caveat to the Ukrainian announcement: Hungary has not yet officially confirmed that it gave the green light to the two negotiating clusters. For the time being, therefore, the information is based on the Ukrainian foreign minister’s statement and an earlier Financial Times report.
