EU agrees to launch membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova

European Union member states have agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, in a move that formally launches the next stage of the two countries' long path towards possible EU membership. The decision was taken by ambassadors from the bloc's 27 nations at a meeting in Brussels, with an intergovernmental conference due to be held on Monday in Luxembourg. That meeting is expected to open key negotiation clusters, marking the start of detailed talks on the conditions for joining the bloc.

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EU Council president Antonio Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the decision recognised the "determination, courage and hard work" shown by both countries in advancing reforms despite "immense challenges". They described the move as a strategic choice that strengthens peace, security and prosperity across Europe. The statement also framed the decision as a signal that the EU's offer of peace, stability and opportunity remains unmatched.

For Ukraine, the decision carries particular political weight because membership has been presented in Kyiv as an important security guarantee for the future once the war with Russia ends. Ukraine applied for EU accession less than a week after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Moldova has also faced pressure from Moscow, and the EU move is likely to be seen as part of a wider contest over the country's political direction.

The accession process is complex and can take years. Candidate countries must complete negotiations across 35 policy areas, known as chapters, covering areas such as agriculture and trade. The opening of clusters at the Luxembourg conference will not mean immediate membership, but it does move both countries into a more formal and structured phase of talks with the bloc.

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The decision also comes against the backdrop of Russia's opposition to Ukraine's westward integration. Moscow has strongly opposed Ukraine's closer ties with Nato and has cited Nato ambitions as one reason for its invasion, although it has not objected in the same way to EU membership for Kyiv. The EU has meanwhile praised Ukraine for pushing through reforms during wartime, while also noting continuing concerns about corruption and justice standards.

What happens next will depend on the pace of negotiations and on whether the two countries can keep advancing the reforms required by the EU. The Luxembourg conference is the immediate next step, but the process is likely to remain lengthy and politically sensitive. It is still unclear how quickly individual negotiation chapters can be opened and closed, and how the war in Ukraine and wider tensions with Russia may affect the timetable.

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