EU starts accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova

On June 25, Ukraine and Moldova started accession talks with the EU. European Commission President von der Leyen congratulated the countries. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commented on the historic step.

Ursula von der Leyen expressed her congratulations on her social network X page. At the same time, the President of the European Commission warned that the path to EU accession “will be difficult but full of opportunities.”

“Congratulations to Moldova and Ukraine on opening accession negotiations. This is very good news for the people of Ukraine, Moldova, and the entire European Union. The path ahead will be challenging but full of opportunities. Wishing you a successful start of the negotiations!”

Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the start of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.

“Today is a historic day when we are moving to actual, real negotiations with the European Union on Ukraine’s membership. On February 28, 2022, a few days after the start of the full-scale invasion, we signed an application for membership,” the President of Ukraine emphasized.

Mr. Zelensky reminded us that Ukraine gained membership in June 2022, and in December last year it received a political decision on accession negotiations. 

Ukraine’s president added, “But the first intergovernmental conference between Ukraine and the EU marks the beginning of our membership in the European Union.” “We will never be led astray from the path to a united Europe, to our common home—all European nations. A home that must be peaceful.”

On June 21, the EU Council approved the negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova. This paved the way for the official launch of accession talks.

The optimistic forecast that Ukraine is counting on is for the opening of the first chapters, or the first chapter, in early 2025.

The negotiations will begin before Hungary, which is skeptical of Ukraine’s European integration, replaces Belgium on July 1 and takes over the EU presidency, as well as having more influence on EU decision-making.

The talks come more than 10 years after thousands of Ukrainians took to the Euromaidan to defend the country’s move toward the EU and more than two years after the start of a full-scale invasion by Russia, which is seeking to have control over Ukraine.

Ukraine’s goal, according to its officials, is to become a member of the European Union by 2030, although it is unclear how long the negotiation process will take.