EU envoys agree to first phase of membership talks for Ukraine and Moldova

Ambassadors from the European Union's 27 countries agreed on Friday to advance membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, with the first phase of

negotiations set to begin on Monday.



Even as Ukraine continues to fight Russia's invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made EU membership a key strategic goal to anchor his country in Europe's political mainstream.



EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023 but negotiations could not start in earnest due to opposition from the previous Hungarian government to Kyiv's membership bid.



But a new government in Budapest reached an agreement with Kyiv this month on the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, paving the way for Hungary to lift its block on the first phase of membership talks.