The EU has launched membership and ascension talks with Ukraine.
On Tuesday, the European Union initiated membership talks with Ukraine, a significant step a decade after Russian troops seized the Crimean Peninsula to prevent Ukraine from moving closer to the West. This event was part of a series of actions that eventually led to the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Ukraine’s accession negotiations began at an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg. Shortly thereafter, Moldova also commenced its membership talks. While these developments mark major milestones on their European paths, the negotiations are expected to take years to conclude.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, speaking via video-link, called it “a historic day” that signifies “a new chapter” in Ukraine’s relationship with the EU, especially as the war with Russia continues. “We fully understand that there is still much work ahead of us on the path to accession. We are ready for it. We have demonstrated that we can move swiftly and achieve the impossible,” Shmyhal stated.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, representing the EU’s rotating presidency, described it as “a historic moment for us all, and marks a milestone in our relationship.” Lahbib reiterated the EU’s condemnation of Russia’s “unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine” and praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people, pledging continued support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed.”
In Luxembourg, Ukraine’s delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olga Stefanishyna. “This is a truly historical moment for my country. All the nation stands as one behind this decision,” she told reporters upon arrival. Stefanishyna expressed that the initiation of talks provides Ukraine’s citizens with the moral strength to continue resisting the Russian invasion.
The intergovernmental conferences officially started the process of aligning the countries’ laws and standards with those of the 27-nation bloc, which has significant concerns about corruption in both countries. However, the actual negotiations are not expected to start for several months.
Ukraine and Moldova applied for EU membership shortly after Russia's invasion in February 2022. By June 2022, EU leaders had formally acknowledged their applications, but progress has been slow since then. If granted, full membership for Kyiv and Chisinau could still be years away.
