BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine was due on Monday to officially begin European Union membership negotiations, launching a process that will require its government to commit to years of political reforms even as it continues to fight a Russian invasion.Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka was to attend a so-called intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg, to open talks on a first group of policy areas that will help Kyiv align with EU laws, standards and values.Ukraine sees EU membership as one “security guarantee” for a stable future once the war ends. Its best guarantee would be NATO membership, but the Trump administration insists that cannot happen, and others are wary of it joining while fighting continues.Moldova was also due to officially launch its membership talks. Russia has long tried to keep the country within its orbit, and was last year accused of waging a major disinformation campaign driven by artificial intelligence during the elections.
EU values and principles first upCountries hoping to join the EU must complete negotiations in 35 policy areas, or chapters, from agriculture to taxation and energy to trade, a process which can take years.Monday’s meeting was to open five key chapters — grouped together as “clusters” — that underpin the values and principles on which the bloc was founded, notably the rule of law, fundamental rights and the functioning of democratic institutions.The chapters are judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, public procurement, statistics and financial control. This cluster is important for some EU countries that worry about Ukraine’s ability and willingness to fight corruption.Last month, two national agencies fighting corruption named Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff as an official suspect in a major graft investigation, but they said the Ukrainian leader was not under suspicion in the case.
