The start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union may be postponed until March 2024. The reason for this is Hungary's position, Euractiv reports.

It is noted that several issues related to Ukraine will be discussed at the EU leaders' summit on December 14-15. The first of these is the start of negotiations on EU accession, as well as the provision of €50 billion in economic support and the allocation of another €20 billion for Ukraine's army. In addition, a new package of sanctions against Russia is on the agenda.

The publication notes that the provision of new financial assistance from Europe is critically important against the background of problems with the coordination of funding in the United States.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has already stated that he will block the issue of Ukraine. He demands a "strategic discussion" from the EU about supporting Kyiv.

European diplomats believe that Orban has supported the applications of Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the EU, but they will fail if Hungary vetoes Ukraine.

Senior EU diplomats told Euractiv that if Hungary blocks support for Ukraine, the start of accession talks could be postponed until March.

"Those who expect Orban to concede have described a possible compromise, postponing the start of negotiations with Ukraine to March under final conditions. Others worry that this time the Hungarian leader will not be convinced," the publication notes.