EU envoys agree to first phase of membership talks for Ukraine and Moldova

The Ukrainian national flag flies near the Motherland monument at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

BRUSSELS, June 12 (Reuters) - Ambassadors from the ⁠European Union's 27 countries agreed on Friday to advance membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, with ⁠the first phase of negotiations set to begin on Monday.

Even as Ukraine continues to fight ‌Russia's invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made EU membership a key strategic goal to anchor his country in Europe's political mainstream.