Ukraine’s EU bid stalls as bloc blockers resurface after Hungary’s exit

Even with Hungary’s leadership change, EU leaders face political blockers to opening enlargement cluster 1 for Ukraine: Budapest’s minority-language rights demands persist, Poland’s concerns over farm subsidies and road transport complicate progress, and France’s agricultural sensitivities add to the hesitation. The European Commission Says Ukraine is ready to open all six clusters, but a Common Position and an Intergovernmental Conference are required, making June’s target uncertain and suggesting limited progress beyond cluster 1 for now.