Sybiha: political obstacles to opening last two EU accession clusters removed
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said political relations with Hungary have improved and that there are no obstacles to opening the remaining two EU accession clusters by the end of the year. Speaking to Ukrinform at the Warsaw Security Forum, he said Ukraine aims to open all six clusters this year and close as many negotiation chapters as possible by the end of Lithuania's EU presidency in July 2027.
Key points
- Sybiha said political relations with Hungary have improved and there are no obstacles to opening the remaining two EU accession clusters by year-end.
- Ukraine has opened four of six EU accession clusters; the EU opened clusters 2 and 3 on 13 October.
- Sybiha said the Irish EU presidency is also aimed at opening the last two clusters for Ukraine.
- Work has begun with Lithuania, the next holder of the EU presidency.
- Ukraine aims to close the maximum number of negotiation chapters by the end of Lithuania's EU presidency in July 2027.
- Sybiha gave the interview to Ukrinform at the Warsaw Security Forum.
- Deputy Prime Minister Vsevolod Chentsov earlier said concessions would be needed to open the remaining two clusters.
Why it matters
Sybiha's remarks frame a reported breakthrough in Ukraine's previously stalled EU accession talks, specifically the political impasse with Hungary. They set an explicit near-term target — all six clusters opened by the end of 2026 — and tie the longer-term ambition of closing negotiation chapters to Lithuania's upcoming EU Council presidency, which runs through July 2027.
What happened
Speaking to Ukrinform at the Warsaw Security Forum, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said political relations with Hungary have improved and that there are no remaining political obstacles to opening the last two EU accession clusters by the end of the year. He said Ukraine's ambition is to open all six clusters within 2026 and that the Irish EU Council presidency is also working toward opening the final two. He added that work has already begun with Lithuania, the next presidency holder, and that Ukraine aims to close the maximum number of negotiation chapters before the end of Lithuania's presidency in July 2027.
The comments come after the EU opened clusters 2 and 3 in Ukraine's accession negotiations on Tuesday, 13 October, bringing the total of opened clusters to four out of six. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Vsevolod Chentsov had said concessions would be needed to open the remaining two clusters.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian-language coverage from outlets including Yevropeiska Pravda and Suspilne Novyny centers Sybiha's statements as a positive development in Ukraine's EU accession trajectory. Both outlets prominently highlight the absence of political obstacles, the country's stated ambition to open all six clusters within the year, and the planned handover of work to Lithuania's incoming EU Council presidency.
Where reporting differs
Sybiha stated that no political obstacles remain to opening the last two clusters, while Deputy Prime Minister Vsevolod Chentsov had earlier said that concessions would be required to open them. Both formulations appear in Ukrainian media reporting.
Background
Ukraine's EU accession process is divided into thematic clusters that must each be opened and closed as part of negotiations. Hungary has previously been cited as a blocker on advancing Ukraine's accession. The Irish Presidency currently holds the rotating EU Council presidency, followed by Lithuania.