Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine will officially begin negotiations for European Union (EU) membership next week. Speaking at a government meeting on Friday, Shmyhal stated, “On June 25, we will hold the Ukraine-EU Intergovernmental Conference, which will mark the formal start of negotiations on our accession,” as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Following the conference, Ukraine and the EU will embark on detailed technical negotiations covering numerous chapters of the future membership agreement, he added.
Earlier in the day, the EU adopted negotiating frameworks for accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, signaling the green light for these negotiations.
Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership was confirmed in June 2022. In December 2023, EU leaders agreed to initiate accession talks with Kiev, setting the stage for further discussions on aligning Ukrainian policies and regulations with EU standards.
The upcoming negotiations are expected to delve into a wide range of topics crucial for Ukraine’s integration into the EU, including economic reforms, rule of law, human rights protections, and alignment of foreign and security policies.
The move marks a significant step in Ukraine’s aspirations for closer ties with Europe amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and its historical relationship with neighboring Russia.
