Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks the EU Council and the Belgian Presidency for approving the the negotiating framework necessary for the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, Ukrinform reported, citing Zelensky's post in "X".
"Today, the 27 EU member states approved the negotiating framework necessary to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. I am grateful to the EU Council and the Belgian Presidency for their firm political will. We are looking forward to next week, June 25, when Ukraine and the EU will hold their first intergovernmental conference, which will practically launch the negotiation process," Zelensky said.
He noted that the negotiating framework was also approved for Moldova, congratulating "our Moldovan friends for this important step towards our common European future".
Today, 27 EU member states approved the negotiating framework necessary to begin EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. I am grateful to @EUCouncil and @EU2024BE for their robust political will.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 21, 2024
We look forward to next week, June 25th, when Ukraine and the EU are set to hold…
"Together we will make the EU stronger,", Zelensky stressed.
He also thanked everyone on his team who worked hard to make this historic step happen. "Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realizing their European dream. "Ukraine is returning to Europe, to which it has belonged for centuries, as a full member of the European community," the Ukrainian president said.
Today, the Belgian Presidency announced in "Ex" that the EU Council has adopted the EU's common positions, including the negotiating frameworks, for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. "This allows negotiations to begin on Tuesday, June 25, in Luxembourg,", the announcement added.