EU ambassador says when talks on Ukraine's accession to EU may start

The EU ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Maternova, said in an interview with Ukrayinska Radio that Kiev was ready to start negotiations on the country's accession to the Commonwealth and that negotiations on this with EU members would probably start this summer.

She noted that the EU would consider the membership of Ukraine and Moldova.

At the same time, Maternova emphasised that the main factor influencing any stage of a country's accession to the EU is unanimity among the member states. She explained that such requirements were imposed on all the countries that joined the EU at one stage or another. The Ambassador noted that at this stage, however insignificant the interests of individual member states may seem, they matter.

I expect that at the end of June we will start negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. The political signal was sent as early as last December. Ukraine is on the right track, it is ready for negotiations, Maternova said.

The ambassador stressed that the start of the negotiations would not mean that all the reforms on the way to EU membership in the country have already been completed and that those that have been started will have to be finished.

Therefore, I cannot guarantee, but I can say that I hope very much that the negotiations will start in June," she added.

Commenting on Hungary's EU presidency from 1 July until the end of 2024, the ambassador explained that the presidency should be an honest mediator and not promote its governmental or national priorities. She also expressed her hope that Budapest will adhere to exactly these standards.

A country has to be an honest mediator, otherwise it will be very difficult for it to hold meetings where it has to preside," Maternova said.