Ukraine is ready: EU ambassador hopes negotiations on joining EU will begin at the end of June

Ukraine is ready to start negotiations on joining the European Union, and they will probably start at the end of June.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarina Maternova, hopes for such a development, stating this in an interview with Ukrainian Radio.

The head of the EU delegation reminded that the main factor affecting any stage of the accession process is the need for unanimity among member states.

"This is exactly what was provided for in the treaties that established the European Union, and it was through this process that all the countries that joined later, such as my country, had to go through.

There must be unanimity; this is what I always draw the attention of my Ukrainian colleagues to: no matter how insignificant the interests of individual member states may seem, they are important," she noted.

The European diplomat emphasized that the European Union sent the political signal regarding the start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023.

"Ukraine is on the right track. It is ready for negotiations," Maternova stressed.

The ambassador added that reforms still need to be continued. However, the head of the EU delegation believes that they can be extended during the accession negotiations.

"Therefore, I cannot guarantee, but I can say that I really hope the negotiations will begin in June," Maternova noted.

What is known about the negotiations regarding Ukraine's accession to the EU

As Rubryka wrote, on November 8, the European Commission officially recommended the EU states start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

The Office of the President noted that Ukraine has fulfilled more than 90% of the recommendations of the European Commission.

On March 12, it became known that the European Commission has prepared a negotiating framework for the membership of Ukraine and Moldova in the EU. Now it will begin to be discussed among the member states of the European Union.

Starting negotiations with another country at the same time does not guarantee completion at the same time, as the pace of negotiations depends on the speed of reforms and alignment with EU law in each country.

President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the European Union should officially start negotiations on the accession of Ukraine in June this year to show Russia that Europe is not showing weakness.

On April 16, Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, announced that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU could start in June.