After years of vetoes, Ukraine expects first EU accession talks to open in weeks

Ukraine expects the European Union to open the first formal negotiating clusters for its accession talks in the coming weeks, marking a key procedural step forward in its bid to join the bloc, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European integration Taras Kachka told Politico on 23 April.

Kachka said Kyiv is preparing for progress in late May or early June, when EU ministers are expected to consider launching the first set of negotiating clusters – the structured reform areas that form the backbone of membership talks.

He told Politico that Ukraine is anticipating the opening of clusters in the “coming weeks,” marking the next step in its EU accession process, which has been stalled since Ukraine received candidate status in 2022.

Vetoes that stalled the process for years dropped

EU officials and diplomats said the formal start of negotiations had been blocked for years due to internal divisions within the bloc, including Hungary’s veto, but that momentum is now building to move ahead. Moldova’s accession track is expected to advance in parallel.

The negotiating clusters cover core areas of EU law and governance, including rule of law, public administration, and economic policy, and must be opened unanimously by all 27 member states.

The expected breakthrough comes alongside a wider shift in EU-Ukraine relations this week, after the bloc approved a €90 billion financial support package for Ukraine and adopted its 20th sanctions package against Russia on April 23.

Hungary's incoming leadership rules out fast-track but won't obstruct

These measures followed the lifting of vetoes by Hungary and Slovakia, which had previously blocked progress over disputes linked to Russian energy transit.

Hungary’s incoming leadership has signaled it will not support accelerated “fast-track” EU accession for Ukraine but said it would not obstruct the standard process.

Kyiv rejects "symbolic" membership 

Responding to suggestions that France and Germany were considering offering Ukraine a “symbolic” form of EU membership, Kachka rejected the idea.

“The only model of accession that we pursue is a full classical, normal … accession to the European Union according to methodology,” he said.

2027 remains a realistic milestone for closing most chapters

He added that Kyiv still sees 2027 as a realistic milestone for major progress in the accession process.

“2027 is really good, at least for closing [the] majority of chapters,” Kachka said. “And of course … also to start to even draft the treaty of accession.”

Despite renewed momentum, EU officials caution that accession remains a long-term process requiring sustained reforms across governance and legal systems, with no country completing the procedure since Croatia in 2013.