EU ambassadors agree on framework of accession talks of Ukraine, Moldova

The Belgian EU Presidency reports this on X.

“Ambassadors agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. The Belgian presidency will call the first intergovernmental conferences on 25 June,” the statement says.

Radio Liberty's correspondent in Brussels Rikard Jozwiak noted that Hungary had stopped blocking the process.

“Hungary no longer blocking negotiation framework for Ukraine (and by extension Moldova). Compromise text agreed. Ukraine and Moldova should now officially start EU accession talk on 25 June,” he wrote.

Ukraine's accession to the EU: what is known

Kyiv applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022, at the start of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine.

On June 23, 2022, Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership.

On November 8, 2023, the European Commission recommended starting the process of negotiating Ukraine's accession to the EU.

On February 21, 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU would be ready in early summer, after the European elections.

On February 22, President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine's goal is to start negotiations on EU accession by June.

On March 12, it became known that European Commissioner Varhelyi proposed to recognize only two of the four steps necessary for Ukraine's accession to the EU as completed.

On May 29, it was reported that the EU plans to start negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the bloc before Hungary takes over the presidency of the EU Council on July 1. Kyiv has fulfilled most of the conditions for accession.

On June 7, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the European Commission had supported the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.