Ukraine is set to host a symbolic meeting next month aimed at reaffirming support for the country’s path toward EU membership, expected to be attended by top EU ministers and leaders. The summit is aimed at showing force against the Hungarian veto currently blocking the Ukrainian bid to the bloc.
The informal gathering of ministers for European affairs is scheduled for December 10–11 in the western city of Lviv. According to an invitation circulated to EU capitals on Monday, the event is being co-organized by Denmark, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU and has previously said they will do “everything” to facilitate Ukraine’s accession.
“The main focus of our discussions will be Ukraine’s progress on its path to EU membership,” the invitation states. “The meeting will provide an opportunity to take stock of the results achieved, to share reflections on the next steps and to reaffirm political support for Ukraine’s reform and integration efforts.”
The letter emphasizes the symbolism of holding the summit inside Ukraine: “By convening in Ukraine, we will send a clear and united political message that the future of Ukraine lies within the EU.”
The initiative comes as the bloc struggles to follow through on promises of financial and institutional support for Kyiv. A proposed €140 billion loan plan based on frozen Russian assets remains on hold due to objections from Belgium, underscoring the internal divisions within the EU over how best to sustain aid to Ukraine.
There are still many concerns over the accelerated membership bid of Ukraine. On November 4th, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to stop blocking Kyiv’s accession bid after Brussels endorsed moving Ukraine to the next phase of the integration process, despite concerns over corruption, financial policies, and many other chapters of the membership bid.
“We are at war for our survival, and we would really like the prime minister of Hungary to support us, at least not block us,” Zelensky said at an event.
Orbán responded the same day on X, defending Hungary’s record of support for Ukraine. “Hungary has taken in refugees from Ukraine, there have been more than 14 million border crossings from Ukraine since the beginning of the war … So far, we have spent a total of 200 million euros on humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians. It is unfortunate if this means nothing to President Zelensky,” he wrote. He also stressed that every EU member state has the right to exercise its veto, calling it a matter of national sovereignty.
Orbán’s veto has blocked the formal opening of accession negotiations, which require unanimous consent by all EU members. Brussels has tried to circumvent Budapest and made efforts to change the rules and move ahead with only a qualified majority but has so far failed to do so. Instead, Brussels is advancing a workaround, allowing Ukraine and neighboring Moldova to continue implementing reforms required by the EU without formal approval. In reality, Ukraine does not meet even the most important conditions, such as respecting fundamental human rights, including the rights of minorities.
