At an EU summit in Cyprus, the Finnish PM said that the Hungarian election result opens the way to discussing Ukraine’s EU membership path.
According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), Finland supports Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU as quickly as possible. He spoke at an informal summit of EU leaders in Cyprus on Friday.
Orpo noted that the Hungarian election result provides an opportunity for a major turnaround in EU decision-making, including discussion of Ukraine’s EU membership path. Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who suffered a crushing defeat in Hungary’s recent parliamentary elections, is not taking part in the get-together.
Finland supports Ukraine becoming an EU member “as quickly as possible,” the PM said.
“It must be based on merit and Ukraine must meet the conditions,” he added in comments quoted by the Finnish news agency STT.
Orpo called for open consideration of an accelerated or phased procedure for Kyiv’s EU membership. The Finnish leader said he would discuss Ukraine’s EU membership with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron during the summit.
“We need to open negotiations as quickly as possible, and then have a quick process, which also depends on Ukraine,” he said.
“Something good in the midst of all this”
On Thursday, EU countries reached a final agreement on a 90-billion-euro loan package for Ukraine and on the Union’s latest package of sanctions against Russia.
Orpo said it was gratifying to hear such positive news among the negative news from around the globe.
“This is a very positive thing, something good in the midst of all this,” Orpo told reporters at the summit.
At the two-day summit, EU leaders are discussing issues ranging from the EU budget for 2028-2034 to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and high fossil fuel prices.
The meeting began on Thursday with an informal dinner for EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ayia Napa resort town on the south coast of Cyprus. The meeting continued on Friday in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia.
