The consolidation of efforts to open Negotiation Cluster 1, “Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process,” along with issues of Ukraine’s economic development and intergovernmental cooperation across various sectors, were the main topics of a meeting between Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev, and a delegation of the global parliamentary network “United for Ukraine” (U4U).
The delegation visiting Kyiv included parliamentarians from Lithuania, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, the European Parliament, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. From the Ukrainian side, the meeting also included Alexander Ilkov, Director General of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka emphasized that Ukraine and Moldova are now ready to open negotiations on Cluster 1, a readiness confirmed by the European Commission.
“Both countries need this next step for internal reasons as well as in a broader regional context. We want the EU to remain united — both regarding our path toward membership and within global efforts to achieve peace,” Kachka stated.
Economic cooperation was also discussed.
“A critically important factor that will accelerate Ukraine’s path to EU and NATO membership is the provision of comprehensive security guarantees. One of the key indicators of the effectiveness of these guarantees is the willingness of foreign businesses to invest in Ukraine. We need deep economic integration not only into the EU market but also with G7 countries and the wider Western world. This will be a consistent policy of our ministry and government as a whole,” Sobolev emphasized.
He added that Ukraine is highly interested in attracting private foreign investment and expanding cooperation between Ukrainian and international businesses. The government is making every effort to ensure a favorable investment climate, minimize risks, and maintain active dialogue with businesses. At the same time, the support of partners, particularly through active promotion of Ukraine as an attractive investment destination, remains crucial.
Background:
The United for Ukraine (U4U) network unites approximately 400 representatives from national parliaments of European countries, the United States, Canada, and other democratic states.
U4U was established after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion at the initiative of European Parliament member Andrius Kubilius, who is now the European Commissioner for Defence and Space. The primary goal of United for Ukraine is to consolidate political efforts and apply pressure on national governments and international institutions to provide Ukraine with weapons, strengthen sanctions on Russia, and invest in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
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