Hungary has signalled its intention to lift its two-year-long veto on Ukraine's bid to join the European Union after Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced a deal with Kyiv on minority rights, allowing the process to enter its next phase.
"We have reached a comprehensive agreement with Ukraine on the expansion of the linguistic, educational, cultural and political rights of the 100,000-strong Hungarian minority," Magyar said on Wednesday on a Facebook video.
Ukraine did not immediately confirm the content of the deal.
In Brussels, the shift in position unfolded suddenly during a meeting of ambassadors.
The Hungarian envoy signalled the easing of reservations, prompting a last-minute change to the agenda. This allowed the 27 member states to take the necessary procedural step that had until now been blocked.
