Ukraine and Moldova to enter first phase of EU membership negotiations

Live updates

1. 7d ago

   EU to kick off Ukraine-Moldova membership talks in Luxembourg next week

   The EU has set a date for the start of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, marking the first phase of their membership bids. The move follows unanimous agreement among EU member states and removes a long-standing Hungarian block. Both countries now face a lengthy process with no immediate path to full membership. Kyiv and Chisinau see this as a critical step amid ongoing Russian aggression.

   What's confirmed:

   • The European Union will hold an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg on Monday to officially launch membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
   • All 27 EU member states have unanimously agreed to open the first cluster of accession negotiations for both countries.
   • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the decision as an opportunity to advance Kyiv’s delayed EU membership bid amid Russia’s ongoing war.
   • The negotiations will begin with foundational chapters, but full EU membership remains years away and will require meeting extensive criteria.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Hungary’s previous veto has been removed, though no official statement from Budapest confirms the exact conditions or timeline of its withdrawal.
   confidence 95%
2. 7d ago

   EU launches accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova after deadlock

   The European Union has formally opened the first phase of membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, ending a two-year impasse. Talks will begin on foundational chapters, but full EU membership remains years away. The decision follows the removal of a Hungarian veto and comes as both nations face ongoing threats from Russia. Kyiv and Chisinau now enter a prolonged process with significant hurdles ahead.

   What's confirmed:

   • Ukraine and Moldova will formally enter the first cluster of EU accession negotiations, labeled 'Fundamentals'.
   • The European Union’s decision follows the resolution of a Hungarian veto that had blocked progress for two years.
   • Full EU membership for either country remains years away, with negotiations focusing initially on foundational chapters.
   • The talks begin amid ongoing conflict with Russia, which has intensified military and political pressure on both nations.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Ukraine faces a 'long and tricky path' ahead, though specifics of obstacles are not yet detailed in confirmed sources.
   confidence 98%
3. 7d ago

   EU formally starts membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova

   The European Union has launched the first phase of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, resolving a two-year political stalemate. Negotiations will focus on foundational chapters, but full membership remains years away. The move follows the lifting of a Hungarian veto and comes amid ongoing conflict with Russia. EU ambassadors and top officials confirmed the decision after a weekend agreement.

   What's confirmed:

   • The European Union formally launched accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on Monday, June 16, 2026, marking the first phase of their membership bids.
   • The negotiations follow the resolution of a Hungarian veto, which had blocked progress for over two years.
   • The first phase of talks will focus on foundational chapters, with full EU membership still expected to take years.
   • The decision was confirmed by EU ambassadors and top officials after an agreement reached over the weekend.
   • EU Enlargement Commissioner Kaja Kallas has expressed the hope that Ukraine will join the EU soon, though she has not provided a specific timeline.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • The EU’s enlargement chief described June 16, 2026, as 'Mega Monday' due to the breakthrough in negotiations.
   confidence 98%
4. 7d ago

   Ukraine and Moldova kick off first EU membership talks

   The EU has formally launched accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, marking the first phase of their membership bids. The move follows the resolution of a Hungarian veto and comes as both countries face ongoing conflict with Russia. Talks will focus on foundational chapters, but full membership remains years away. The decision was confirmed by EU ambassadors and top officials after a weekend agreement.

   What's confirmed:

   • Ukraine and Moldova will begin the first phase of EU membership negotiations on Monday, June 15, 2026, focusing on the 'fundamentals' cluster, which covers core political and legal reforms.
   • The negotiations were approved by all 27 EU member states, including Hungary, after a change in the Hungarian government’s stance on minority rights in Ukraine.
   • The EU’s decision follows a weekend agreement among member states, with EU ambassadors formally endorsing the start of talks.
   • The first phase will assess Ukraine’s and Moldova’s progress on democratic institutions, rule of law, and economic reforms as prerequisites for deeper integration.
   • Ukraine’s path to membership is described as historic but acknowledges the long road ahead, with full accession expected to take years even under optimal conditions.
   • The Hungarian government previously blocked negotiations over concerns about minority rights protections for Hungarians in Ukraine, a veto now lifted.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • A deal between Hungary and Ukraine on minority rights protections is claimed to have resolved the veto, though specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed.
   • Some reports suggest internal EU divisions may persist on future chapters, though the first cluster has unanimous support.
   confidence 98%