Ukraine is moving closer to the EU.Image: keystone
June 12, 2026, 9:07 p.mJune 12, 2026, 9:07 p.m
The EU will begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on Monday. As the current Cypriot Presidency announced, following the end of the Hungarian blockade, the Member States have agreed on a common position on the first phase of negotiations, thus completing the necessary preparations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj thanked his country’s partners in the EU on social media, among other things. Ukraine is doing what is necessary as announced, and it is also important that the EU keeps its word, he wrote. The opening of the first cluster is important political and moral support for the state and the people. Moldovan President Maia Sandu also welcomed the decision. Moldova is ready to open all stages of negotiations, she wrote to X and announced further reforms.
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 was blocked by Hungary with a veto. Only after the long-time Hungarian head of government Viktor Orban was voted out in April did the process move again.
Last week, the new Hungarian Prime Minister Peter 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.
Negotiations could also fail
In the first phase of negotiations, officially called the first cluster, countries must, among other things, demonstrate that their justice system and public administration meet EU standards. The accession negotiation process is thematically divided into six sections with a total of 33 so-called chapters. There are also two chapters that are being negotiated outside the cluster.
The negotiations usually last for years and it is not certain that they will be concluded successfully. The EU accession negotiations with Turkey, for example, started in 2005 – but they are now completely on hold following the country’s continued regression in the areas of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. (sda/dpa)