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Did Hungary's shift open Ukraine's EU path?
Summary
A look back at 2 June 2026, when Budapest was reported to be dropping its opposition to Ukraine's EU accession.
What did Hungary's reported change of course mean for Ukraine's EU hopes? On 2 June 2026, Politico reported that Hungary would abandon its opposition to Ukraine joining the European Union ahead of the upcoming EU conference in Luxembourg.
The reported move was a reversal. Hungary had previously blocked Ukraine from advancing towards membership under former prime minister Viktor Orbán. Politico's report pointed to a different stance from Budapest as the Luxembourg meeting approached.
A regional backdrop
Politics elsewhere in the region were also shaped by Ukraine-related questions. On 28 May 2026, the Latvian Saeima approved a four-party coalition government led by prime minister Andris Kulbergs. It replaced the administration of Evika Siliņa, which collapsed after disputes over the handling of suspected Ukrainian drones entering Latvian airspace.
Taken together, the two developments showed Ukraine remaining a live issue in the domestic and EU politics of its neighbours in late May and early June 2026.
