Ukraine Launches EU Membership Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict

WHO:

DW - European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar, former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

WHAT:

DW - The EU has formally opened the first stage of accession negotiations with Ukraine.

ABC News World - Ukraine is officially opening negotiations for European Union membership.

DW - The accession process is split across six "clusters" that make up a total of 33 chapters.

DW - The last country to join the EU was Croatia in 2013.

WHERE:

DW - The negotiations were opened in the context of the G7 summit in Evian, France.

DW - President Zelenskyy made his remarks from Chisinau, Moldova.

WHEN:

DW - The EU and Ukraine formally opened the first stage of accession negotiations on a Monday.

WHY:

DW - The opening of negotiations comes two years later than planned due to a veto from Hungary's former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

DW - Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar lifted the veto after reaching an agreement with Ukraine on measures to strengthen the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine.

DW - Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 accelerated the desire for EU membership among the Ukrainian electorate.

HOW:

DW - The accession process requires unanimous approval from existing EU governments.

DW - The first cluster to open and the last to be closed is labeled "fundamentals," which includes core issues like judiciary and fundamental rights, economic criteria, and the functioning of democratic institutions.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 01:51 UTC)

The European Union has officially opened the first stage of accession negotiations with Ukraine, a significant step that comes two years later than initially planned due to a veto from Hungary's former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This milestone was announced during the G7 summit in Evian, France, with President Zelenskyy making remarks from Chisinau, Moldova, and the process will be divided into six clusters comprising a total of 33 chapters. Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar lifted the veto after reaching an agreement with Ukraine to enhance the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority, reflecting the heightened desire for EU membership among Ukrainians following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.