Leaders of Hungarian communities in Ukraine appealed to the European Council and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to support the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU

Leaders of Hungarian communities in Ukraine, particularly those in the Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia) region, have appealed to the European Council and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to support the launch of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

The text of the appeal is available to Yevropeiska Pravda.

The leaders of Hungarian communities emphasise that over the past year, Ukraine has demonstrated significant progress in implementing the European Commission's recommendations on ensuring the rights of national minorities.

"The new draft law adopted by the Ukrainian parliament significantly reflects the interests of national minorities and enjoys our full support," they said.

"We strongly urge all EU leaders to continue to support Ukraine on its European integration path. This progress in ensuring democracy and minority rights is an integral part of the Copenhagen criteria for membership, and we believe that Ukraine deserves to be supported in its efforts in this direction," the Hungarian community leaders emphasised.

The appeal was signed by Babiak Zoltan, head of the Berehove City Territorial Community, Carlo Rezesh, head of the Berehove District Council, Laslo Zubanych, head of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Ukraine, Yosyp Rezesh, head of the Foundation for Ukrainian-Hungarian Regional Youth Development, and Judita Peteii, a member of the Zakarpattia Regional Council.