Zelenskyy Expects EU to Open Ukraine Accession Negotiating Clusters in June

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on April 26 that Ukraine expects the European Union to open the first negotiating clusters for accession talks in June. He stated that Ukraine has completed all necessary preparatory steps and now awaits political decisions from EU leaders.

Zelenskyy indicated that the opening of these structured negotiation areas, which form the basis of EU accession talks, could occur between late May and June, with June being the most probable timeframe. Ukraine received EU candidate status in 2022, but the start of negotiations has faced delays due to internal EU divisions, including vetoes from member states like Hungary.

This expected opening would transition talks into the next phase, covering key policy areas such as rule of law, governance, and economic reform. Ukrainian officials also anticipate progress in late May or early June, aligning with broader EU decisions supporting Ukraine. Full EU membership remains a multi-year process requiring unanimous approval and sustained reforms.