Ukraine will host an informal summit of EU ministers in Lviv on December 10-11 to review Kyiv’s progress toward EU membership, Politico reports. The meeting is intended to show political support for Ukraine while allies seek ways around Hungary’s veto, which has blocked the formal accession process.
Kyiv was granted EU candidate status in 2022 and has carried out broad economic, judicial, and anti-corruption reforms amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán - widely regarded as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally within the EU - has pledged to block accession until next year’s elections, preventing the opening of formal negotiating chapters.
To get around the veto, EU officials are considering a “frontloading” plan, allowing Ukraine to start implementing reforms and aligning its laws with EU standards even before formal negotiations begin. This would let Kyiv advance its membership preparations so it can move quickly whenever the impasse may be lifted.
The invitation for the Lviv meeting was sent jointly by Denmark, holding the EU Council presidency, and Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka.
Officials say the discussions will focus on reviewing reform progress, planning next steps, and reaffirming political support. Frontloading reforms also applies to neighboring Moldova, which faces a similar accession path.
Officials told Politico that frontloading will allow Kyiv to move quickly once Hungary lifts its veto, which may happen after the Hungarian parliamentary elections in early 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the positive assessment of Ukraine’s reforms from Brussels, saying the country will become a full EU member “in a fair way when Ukraine is standing for itself and when the war is over.”
