European Union member states expressed broad support for advancing accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, with several foreign ministers welcoming the opening of the first negotiation clusters and calling for a clearer path toward eventual EU membership.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg that the launch of the first negotiation clusters marks an important step forward in Ukraine’s EU integration process.
“Today is a special day for Ukraine. We can finally begin real negotiations on the clusters. The first clusters are opening,” Wadephul said.
He stressed that Germany supports establishing a predictable and structured negotiation path for both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, based on merit and reform progress.
Wadephul added that Ukraine is making serious efforts to align its legislation with EU standards, but warned that the process will take time.
“This is a long road. It will not be achieved tomorrow. But from the German side, we will strongly support Ukraine,” he said, calling the development a “historic moment for Europe and for Ukraine.”
He also reiterated continued EU support for Ukraine alongside sustained pressure on Russia through sanctions.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard welcomed the opening of the first cluster but argued that all six negotiation clusters should be opened immediately, in line with European Commission recommendations.
“We welcome that the first cluster is now opening. But according to the Commission’s recommendation, all six clusters should be opened already, because Ukraine deserves it,” she said in Luxembourg.
Stenergard emphasized that the accession process must remain merit-based and warned against creating special treatment, while insisting that full EU membership must remain the final goal.
“For me, it is important that at the end of the tunnel there is real EU membership, and that it is not something instead of it,” she said.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said that both Ukraine and Moldova are ready to proceed with the next steps in the accession process, noting that the opening of the first cluster carries strong symbolic significance as well as practical importance for reforms, particularly in the area of fundamental rights.
Braže also supported ideas for a closer interim relationship between Ukraine and the EU during the accession process, arguing that it could help Ukraine experience aspects of EU integration even before full membership.
She stressed the importance of sending a strong political signal to Ukraine, especially in light of recent Russian attacks, which she described as brutal and aimed at destroying civilian and cultural sites.
Braže linked Russia’s current aggression to historical Soviet-era repression, referencing the deportation of Latvians 85 years ago as an example of Moscow’s longstanding imperial practices.
She said the EU must continue strengthening sanctions against Russia, including work on a 21st sanctions package targeting individuals and companies supporting the war.
