Talks on Ukraine’s accession to EU launching today

This is reported by Radio Svoboda, Ukrinform saw.

The conference with Ukraine will launch at 15:30 and with Moldova – at 18:00 local time.

It is noted that the very start of negotiations does not imply quick acceptance into the EU.

The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, previously suggested that Ukraine could become a member of the EU by 2030 if it does its "homework."

The day before, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said that after the completion of the negotiations on joining the EU, Ukraine will be three steps away from "full membership in the European Union", according to the ministry’s press service.

"Tomorrow will mark the inaugural part, then there will be six clusters of negotiations opening and closing, already involving experts in the relevant fields who will work and bring Ukrainian legislation into compliance with EU standards," Kuleba said.

According to the minister, the three steps will be as such:

The conclusion of the European Commission on the successful completion of talks and Ukraine's achievement of compliance with the accession criteria;

The decision to sign the Agreement on Ukraine's accession to the EU; and

Ratification of the agreement by parliaments of EU member states and Ukraine's acquisition of full membership in the EU.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on June 21, the Council of the EU approved the negotiating framework for Ukraine and Moldova, which paved the way for the launch of negotiations in Luxembourg on June 25.

The European Commission verbally confirmed on June 7 that Ukraine and Moldova had taken all required steps to start the EU accession negotiations outlined in the November EU enlargement report.