Sybiha: Ukraine to open all six EU accession negotiation clusters by year-end

Ukraine intends to complete the opening of all six negotiation clusters regarding its accession to the European Union by the end of the current year. This was stated by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Political barriers removed

According to the head of the Foreign Ministry, there are currently no political obstacles to implementing this plan. He emphasised that resolving the issue with Hungary allowed the process to be unblocked.

«Ми впорядкували відносини з Угорщиною, що дозволило нам розблокувати це питання, і на сьогодні інших політичних перешкод для відкриття кластерів немає» (We have sorted out our relations with Hungary, which allowed us to unblock this issue, and as of today there are no other political obstacles to opening the clusters), Sybiha stressed.

Status of the negotiation process

Currently, four of the six clusters have been opened. The minister characterised the opening of two new tracks as an important step on Ukraine's path to EU membership. Kyiv aims to launch negotiations on the remaining two clusters by the end of the year.

Position of European partners

Andrii Sybiha added that European partners support this approach. In particular, opening the remaining clusters aligns with the position of Ireland, which will hold the EU Council presidency in the second half of 2026.

The Foreign Minister also reported that Ukraine has already begun negotiations with Lithuania. This country plans to hold the EU Council presidency in the first half of 2027, and the parties are discussing further steps in euro-integration.