Ukraine has fulfilled key conditions to open formal accession negotiations with the European Union, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She stated that it is now the EU’s responsibility to move forward and open the first negotiation cluster.
Von der Leyen: Ukraine delivered, now it’s Europe’s move
Speaking on 27 June, Ursula von der Leyen praised Ukraine’s pace of reforms, saying, “Under relentless fire, Ukraine is passing reform after reform.” In her post on X, she emphasized that the EU accession process is merit-based and declared, “Ukraine has delivered – now we must too.”
At a press conference following a European Council session, von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s backing for Ukraine’s EU path. Suspilne reports that she confirmed Ukraine has done its share of the work, and now it is the European Union’s turn to respond by opening the first negotiation cluster.
EU Commission pushes forward, Hungary digs in
Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna stated that Ukraine’s partners “commended Ukraine’s pace of reforms under the most difficult circumstances” and confirmed readiness to open the first cluster of negotiations. However, for talks to begin, all 27 EU member states must agree.
According to Liga, Hungary continues to block the move. On 26 June during the EU summit in Brussels, Hungary, under its pro-Russian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, announced its opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession.
Ahead of the EU summit in Brussels, Viktor Orbán claimed that 95% of over 2.1 million participants in his Voks2025 anti-Ukrainian consultative referendum allegedly voted against Ukraine’s EU membership.
Despite its unofficial nature, Orbán is using the vote that is not legally binding as a tool of political leverage within the EU. Kyiv, however, dismisses the move. Stefanishyna called it a “small obstacle” that “won’t prevent the start of negotiations.”
EU funding, sanctions, and support for Ukraine
Suspilne also reports that von der Leyen confirmed €1 billion in EU funding has already been allocated to Ukraine’s defense industry, using profits from frozen Russian assets. She added that Brussels is ready to frontload €11 billion more from the G7 loan package, stressing the urgency of Kyiv’s financial needs.
Von der Leyen also mentioned the EU’s commitment to delivering 2 million artillery shells to Ukraine by 2025. Meanwhile, Brussels is preparing its 18th package of sanctions against Russia, aiming to pressure Moscow into serious talks beginning with a real ceasefire.
Ukraine’s path to EU accession
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Ukraine’s EU membership application on 28 February 2022, days after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On 23 June 2022, the European Council granted Ukraine candidate status. Ukraine was tasked with seven key reforms, including tackling corruption and strengthening the rule of law.
On 26 September 2023, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that all the Commission’s recommendations had been fulfilled. The EU Commission then formally recommended starting accession talks on 8 November 2023. EU ambassadors approved a negotiating mandate, and the European Council endorsed it on 21 June 2024.
Talks officially began on 25 June 2024 in Luxembourg, with the bilateral screening of Ukrainian legislation. However, Hungary’s ongoing blockade has stalled the formal opening of negotiation clusters since early 2025.