EU membership talks with Ukraine could start in June – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda believes that talks on Ukraine's accession to the European Union could start in June, before Hungary takes over the bloc's rotating presidency.

"I believe that the intergovernmental conference could take place in June. I have reasons to believe so. Our stance is that the text of the agreement should include a reference stating our intension to open talks as soon as possible," Nauseda told reporters after the European Council's meeting on Thursday.

"It's not just abstract words that we intend to start, but that we intend to start as early as possible. Which implies (that this would take place) by the end of this phase of the Belgian presidency," he said.

After breaking Hungary's veto, EU leaders in December agreed to open accession talks with Kyiv.

Nauseda said no member country should hinder the negotiation process.

"I don't think there're many countries that would deliberately want to delay the process. Even including Hungary," he said.