EU and Ukraine reach agreement: A 10-point plan has been drafted

Orbán has portrayed his move as necessary to secure future security guarantees for Kyiv.

“We see Ukraine’s EU membership as a political part of Europe’s security guarantee for Ukraine,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said at an informal ministerial meeting in Lviv, adding that accession would be “crucial for the sustainability of any peace settlement,” Euronews reports.

The 10-point plan, outlined in a joint statement by Kos and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kačka, will allow the European Commission to bypass Hungary’s political veto on formally opening accession talks — a step that requires unanimous approval by all 27 EU leaders.

Ukraine will continue implementing expected reforms informally, with Commission support, enabling technical negotiations to move forward despite Budapest’s objections.

“We are now frontloading all the technical work. That means that although it is formally still blocked (…) Ukraine can still move forward. The blockage cannot last forever; it must be lifted,” Danish European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre told reporters.

An EU official stressed the importance of “not wasting time” and keeping Ukraine moving forward so that the country is more prepared once political consensus is reached.

Orbán remains firm

Orbán has so far resisted all calls to withdraw his veto, arguing that Ukraine cannot join the EU while Russia’s full-scale invasion is ongoing. The plan was drafted after informal discussions in Lviv involving ministers from all EU countries except Hungary, during which they outlined expected progress for Ukraine in the coming year.

Focus on anti-corruption and judicial reform

The 10 points describe steps Ukraine must take in 2025 to strengthen the rule of law, intensify the fight against corruption, and reinforce judicial independence — all core requirements for EU membership.

A major priority is the fight against corruption, especially after Kyiv briefly advanced — then withdrew — legislation that would have weakened two key anti-corruption institutions:

• NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau)

• SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office)

The move triggered strong criticism from the European Commission.

Under point one of the plan, Ukraine commits to:

• Strengthening the independence of NABU and SAPO

• Protecting their jurisdiction from political interference

• Expanding their mandate to all high-risk positions identified by independent assessment

Kyiv also pledges to adopt a new anti-corruption strategy and a state anti-corruption program by Q2 of next year.

Context of ongoing scandals

The plan comes as Kyiv faces increased scrutiny, including a high-level bribery investigation involving the nuclear energy company Energoatom, which led to the resignation of Andriy Yermak, former chief of staff to President Zelensky.

Critical moment amid U.S. pressure

Ukraine faces rising pressure from Washington to reach a peace deal with Russia, as questions loom over future U.S. funding.

According to media reports, Zelensky’s revised 20-point peace plan presented to the White House envisages EU membership for Ukraine by 2027.

Marta Kos arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday, joining Kačka and Danish minister Bjerre in high-level discussions on the state of accession negotiations.