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Article Body Text<p>The European Union and Ukraine began membership talks Tuesday, a process that could take years and which Russia has historically tried to prevent.</p> <p>The talks come a decade after Russian troops seized the Crimean Peninsula to keep Ukraine from forming relationships with the West.</p> <p>The accession negotiations began during an intergovernmental conference held in Luxembourg. Olga Stefanishyna, deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, spearheads Ukraine’s delegation.</p> <p>“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between Ukraine and the European Union,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at the start of the talks.</p> <p>In a post on the social media site X after the EU agreed to talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “Generations of our people are realizing their European dream. Ukraine is returning to Europe.”</p> <p>Moldova is due to start EU membership talks later on Tuesday.</p> <p>A candidate country must align its laws and standards with EU policy on issues that include movement of goods, environmental concerns and security.</p> <p>All 27 member countries must agree to an EU addition. Hungary has historically been an obstacle to Ukraine’s EU and NATO support.</p> <p>“We are still at the beginning of the screening process. It's very difficult to say at what stage Ukraine is in. From what I see here, as we speak, they are very far from meeting the accession criteria,” Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka said.</p> <p>If given member status, Ukraine would exceed France in territory to become the largest member of the bloc. Its status as a top grain producer would also affect EU agriculture policy.</p> <p>Talks, while a milestone, could take years to finalize. Formal negotiations are unlikely to start for a few months.</p> <p>Turkey has been in accession talks for almost two decades without an outcome. Other waiting countries include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.</p> <p>Ukraine is seeking membership by 2030 but must first complete dozens of institutional and legal reforms.</p>
Content TypeText
LanguageEnglish
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 25, 2024 12:15 EDT
BylineVOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
