Allowing in the war-torn nation of more than 40 million people would bring a major change and huge costs for the bloc and turn some countries that currently receive EU money into net contributors.
With Ukraine and other hopefuls campaigning for membership, the far more fundamental debate is how to make the EU manageable if it reaches 30 or more members.
Countries like the Netherlands insist that there can be no shortcuts on the path to membership.
Hungary, Russia’s closest ally in the EU, accuses Kiev of curbing the rights of ethnic Hungarians.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said, “Ukraine is not suitable for EU membership until peace is achieved, the country’s accession would bring war to the community, which clearly no one wants.”
Szijjarto said that Ukraine had not met the necessary conditions for EU candidate status and that Kyiv had violated the principles of minority rights within the community.
“Since the European Commission also recognizes that Ukraine has not met the conditions for candidate status, we do not consider any further steps in the accession negotiations with Ukraine timely.”