Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar praised the agreement on the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, calling it historic.
For Ukraine, however, it is primarily another opening to start the EU membership negotiations that Hungary has long blocked.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos wrote on X that the agreement opens the way for further talks with Ukraine. "It is time to accelerate their path to EU membership. It is the best way to protect minorities," she wrote .
EU ambassadors began work on opening the first so-called negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova on Wednesday. The plan is for the work to continue in Luxembourg on 15 June.
As recently as last week, Magyar referred to the handling of the Hungarian minority when the issue of Ukraine's membership negotiations came up, but also expressed hope for a quick solution and a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On Wednesday, Magyar said he now wants to see Ukraine implement parts of the agreement.
When that happens, Hungary will give its approval to open the first negotiation clusters.
But Magyar also said that Hungary does not support a fast track to the EU for Ukraine. In addition, Hungary will hold a referendum on Ukraine's EU membership if Ukraine manages to close all 33 necessary negotiation chapters in the next 10 to 15 years.
