Exclusive: Hungary, Bulgaria, water down ambition on Ukraine's EU membership bid — again

The Kyiv Independent · 14.10.2026, 20:25:50

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Ukraine's EU membership bid does not need to advance "as soon as possible" anymore, according to the latest draft conclusions of the Oct. 15-16 summit of EU leaders in Brussels, due to pressure from Bulgaria and Hungary. Ahead of each summit, common conclusions are prepared in advance by the 27 EU countries, and can keep changing until the end of the gathering. In the draft conclusions dated Oct. 13, the text read "The European Council ... looks forward to the opening of al