Ukraine is counting on a full launch of negotiations regarding all six clusters of the accession process to the European Union within the next two months. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel, which took place in Yerevan.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Preparation for negotiations and financial support
As the head of state emphasized, Ukraine is technically fully prepared to address all six negotiation directions necessary for Eurointegration. Zelensky also thanked Charles Michel for his active support and personal contribution to unblocking the financial aid package for Ukraine amounting to 90 billion euros.
“With President of the European Council Charles Michel, we discussed our Eurointegration. We expect the opening of all six negotiation clusters during this and next month. Technically, Ukraine is fully ready,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
The president stressed the importance of receiving financial assistance as soon as possible, as these funds are intended to help Ukraine prepare for the winter period.
Sanctions and obstacles on the path to the EU
During the negotiations, the parties also paid attention to issues of strengthening sanctions against the Russian Federation, particularly the shadow fleet, and discussed diplomatic efforts to achieve peace. Volodymyr Zelensky informed about the pause in negotiations related to the war in Iran and the current contacts with representatives of the United States.
Ukraine received official candidate status for EU membership in June 2022. The negotiation process is structured into six clusters, covering 35 chapters of EU legislation. Unanimous support from all EU member states is required for the final opening or closing of each of them.
As of today, the formal start of the negotiation clusters remains blocked due to Hungary’s position, which does not agree to the corresponding decision of the EU Council. This country demands guarantees for the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine and opposes the accelerated accession of Ukraine to the EU.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that determining a specific date for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is a key component of security guarantees and a necessary condition for potential peaceful resolution with Russia. The president also warned that the Kremlin may attempt to disrupt Ukraine’s Eurointegration process.