Ukraine is getting a little closer to joining the EU: official talks are taking place in Luxembourg.Image: Moment RF
June 15, 2026, 7:42 p.mJune 15, 2026, 7:56 p.m
The EU has started accession negotiations with Ukraine. Representatives from both sides officially started talks on the first thematic block in Luxembourg in the evening, as a spokesman for the Council of Member States told the dpa news agency.
The first phase of negotiations will begin discussions on topics such as the justice system, the protection of fundamental values and security. Candidate countries must, among other things, prove that their legal systems, border protection and police meet EU standards.
After a two-year stalemate due to a blockade in Hungary, the step of opening the first phase of negotiations is seen as an important signal to Ukraine that its reform efforts are worthwhile. The country attacked by Russia will now have to show in the course of negotiations that will probably last years that it is ready to join the EU. This also requires numerous other reforms, for example in the area of combating corruption.
Accession negotiations with Moldova were also scheduled to begin later in the evening. Ukraine’s neighboring country also had to wait two years for talks to begin because of the Hungarian blockade.
New head of government in Hungary brought about a change
The EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova actually began formally in June 2024. However, the opening of the first phase of negotiations with Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, was blocked by Hungary with a veto. Only after the long-standing Russian-friendly head of government Viktor Orbán was voted out in April did the process move again.
At the beginning of June, the new Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced an agreement with Ukraine on an agreement to strengthen the minority rights of ethnic Hungarians in the eastern neighboring country. Magyar had made such an agreement a condition for agreeing to EU accession talks with Ukraine.
In addition to Ukraine and Moldova, the Western Balkan countries Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo are particularly aspiring to join the EU. According to the EU Commission’s most recent analysis, Montenegro is furthest along in the EU admission process – the negotiators have now met in Luxembourg for the 27th round of negotiations.
The country, which has only around 620,000 inhabitants, was recently confirmed as being able to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2026 if it maintains the pace of reform. Von der Leyen recently said at a Western Balkans summit that it was “within reach” for Montenegro to become the 28th EU member state by 2028.
Wadephul: “Historical point in time”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Luxembourg that Ukraine had a long way to go and that the goal would not be reached tomorrow. Nevertheless, it is about more than symbolism, and the start of negotiations is a “historic moment for Europe and also for Ukraine”. “If you don’t start, you won’t get any results,” he said.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the opening of negotiations on the first thematic block on the sidelines of the G7 summit as a “tremendous step forward”. Ukraine has made remarkable progress in reforms, she said. (sda/dpa)