The European Union has published its common position on the criteria Ukraine must fulfil to close negotiations on cluster 6 External Relations of EU accession. Its opening is scheduled for 14 July.

The remaining negotiating clusters for Ukraine's EU accession talks will be postponed until autumn after the sixth cluster is opened on 14 July.

The EU's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, told journalists that the newly opened cluster covers external relations, defense, and the tackling of hybrid threats.