Hungary and Lithuania diverge on whether Ukraine can join the EU by 2030
Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán says Ukraine’s EU accession by 2030 is unrealistic and opposes an accelerated process, while Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys says the target remains theoretically possible if Ukraine reforms quickly and the EU completes its procedures on time. The European Commission says accession negotiations could finish by the end of 2028 if reforms accelerate.
Key points
- Hungary considers Ukraine’s EU accession by 2030 unrealistic.
- Ukraine has opened four of six EU accession negotiation clusters.
- Lithuania says accession by 2030 is theoretically possible if reforms and EU procedures advance quickly.
- Budrys called for 2030 to be established as the target completion date.
- The European Commission says negotiations could finish by the end of 2028 if reforms accelerate.
- The EU’s Expansion-2026 report places Ukraine among the leaders of European integration.
- An interim report on Ukraine’s rule-of-law criteria could reach the EU Council in the first half of 2027.
Why it matters
The statements show a clear divide within Europe over the feasibility of Ukraine completing EU accession by 2030. The schedule depends not only on Ukraine’s reforms but also on the EU completing the necessary institutional steps on time. Hungary ties its support to equal procedures and merit-based progress, while also linking part of Ukraine’s progress to improved bilateral relations and an agreement on protecting the Hungarian national minority in Transcarpathia.
What happened
Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said Ukraine’s EU accession by 2030 is unrealistic and that Hungary does not support accelerating the process. She nevertheless supports accession based on merit and stated that Ukraine had made significant progress after opening four of six negotiation clusters. Orbán said Ukraine should undergo the same accession procedure that Hungary completed and linked part of its progress to better relations with Hungary and an agreement on minority rights in Transcarpathia.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys gave a more optimistic assessment, saying accession by 2030 remains theoretically possible. He called for setting 2030 as the target date and said the outcome depends on Ukraine implementing reforms quickly while the EU completes its procedures on time.
The European Commission said Ukraine could finish accession negotiations by the end of 2028 if it accelerates reforms. It may also provide the EU Council with an interim report on Ukraine’s compliance with rule-of-law criteria in the first half of 2027.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focuses on Hungary’s rejection of a 2030 accession timetable and contrasts it with Lithuania’s more optimistic position and the European Commission’s conditional timeline. The coverage also emphasizes that Ukraine has opened four of the six negotiation clusters, while noting that different views persist over the pace of reforms and the feasibility of accession by 2030.
How international sources describe it
Institutional assessments of Ukraine’s timetable remain conditional. The European Commission links completion of negotiations by the end of 2028 to faster reforms, while Lithuania’s position similarly depends on rapid Ukrainian reforms and timely action by EU institutions. EU reporting places Ukraine among the integration leaders and identifies a possible interim assessment of rule-of-law criteria in 2027.
Where reporting differs
Hungary’s foreign minister considers EU accession by 2030 unrealistic, while Lithuania’s foreign minister says it remains theoretically possible and should be pursued through an explicit target date.
Background
Ukraine has opened four of six negotiation clusters in its EU accession process. The European Commission’s Expansion-2026 report placed Ukraine among the leaders of European integration. If reforms are accelerated, the Commission may submit an interim report on Ukraine’s rule-of-law criteria to the EU Council in the first half of 2027.