All 27 EU member states have unanimously supported and formally agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova – Cluster 1 – Fundamentals.According to the European Commission, the accession cluster was officially opened in Luxembourg during an Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, June 15, marking an important milestone on Ukraine’s more than decade-long path toward EU membership.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.The Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said that the move sends a clear message that “The future of Ukraine and its citizens is firmly anchored in the European Union,” underscoring Ukraine’s commitment to European integration during the challenges of Russia’s war.“This is testament to the resilience of the Ukrainian people,” she said, adding that the commitment “that Ukraine is taking today is critical for moving the accession process forward.”The negotiations on the “Fundamentals” cluster are the first ones to be opened and the last ones to be closed in the accession process, with their progress determining the overall pace of negotiations.President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly framed Ukraine’s path to the European Union as a part of the country’s defense against Russian aggression, arguing that by resisting Moscow, Ukrainians are also defending the idea of a Europe where nations can live “united, free and in peace.”