Connect with us

World

Ukraine has met two of the seven conditions for EU accession talks

Published

on

Ukraine has met two of the seven conditions for EU accession talks

The European Commission has delivered a first update on Ukraine’s progress in its path towards EU membership.

The war-torn nation has fully met two of the seven conditions that Brussels established as part of Ukraine’s candidacy.

The steps are considered essential to start accession negotiations on a formal basis, something Kyiv would like to see happen before the end of the year.

The completed reforms relate to the composition of two high-level judicial bodies and the media sector, whose legislation was amended to align with EU standards.

Ukraine has made “good progress” on a third requirement – the selection of judges for the Constitutional Court – and “some progress” on the remaining four: the fight against corruption, the prevention of money laundering, the mitigation of the excessive influence exerted by oligarchs, and the protection of national minorities.

Advertisement

The update was delivered on Thursday by Olivér Várhelyi, the European Commissioner for enlargement, during a meeting with ministers in Stockholm.

“Ukraine needs to build a credible track record of prosecutions and convictions and to ensure a steady fight against corruption,” Várhelyi said regarding one of the pending tasks.

The seven conditions were first laid out in June 2022, when the European Commission positively assessed Ukraine’s initial bid, submitted in the early days of Russia’s invasion.

EU leaders later endorsed the analysis and declared Ukraine a candidate country to join the bloc, under the assumption the country would fulfill the seven requirements before moving on to the next phase.

The update delivered on Thursday is only a preview of an extensive, country-by-country enlargement report that is scheduled to be published in the autumn. The report will be used by EU leaders to decide whether to open accession talks with Kyiv, a highly complex and technical process that can last for years.

Advertisement

Várhelyi said Ukraine could satisfy the seven conditions by October, despite the ongoing war, which he described as the “biggest obstacle” in the country’s European ambitions.

“This is a snapshot. In October, these (steps) are not going to be the only criteria which we would be looking at,” Várhelyi said.

“Getting candidate status was a challenge,” the Commissioner added. “Starting accession negotiations is another challenge.”

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

World

Sean 'Diddy' Combs back in Brooklyn jail ahead of sentencing

Published

on

Sean 'Diddy' Combs back in Brooklyn jail ahead of sentencing
Despite being found not guilty on the most serious counts at his sex trafficking trial, Sean “Diddy” Combs will spend months awaiting sentencing at a notoriously understaffed and violent Brooklyn jail where the music mogul has lived through nearly ten months of lockdowns and fights.
Continue Reading

World

Putin rebuffs Trump in call, vows to press on with Ukraine war

Published

on

Putin rebuffs Trump in call, vows to press on with Ukraine war

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Russian President Vladimir Putin once again refused to end his war in Ukraine until Russia achieves its “goals” despite another direct call between the Kremlin chief and President Donald Trump. 

“Vladimir Putin, for his part, noted that we continue to seek a political and negotiated solution to the conflict,” Russian diplomat Yuri Ushakov said in a readout following the call.

“Our president also said that Russia will achieve the goals it has set: that is the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs, to the current acute confrontation, and Russia will not back down from these goals,” he added.

PUTIN’S ATTEMPT TO ‘PLAY TRUMP’ ON UKRAINE WILL FAIL, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SAYS

Advertisement

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his address to the nation in Moscow on Mar. 23, 2024. (Mikhail Metzel/Pool/AFP via Getty Images))

In an attempt to justify his invasion, Putin has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine posed a threat as it looked to become a NATO member, and has made clear he wants to overthrow President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and topple the government in Kyiv. 

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions regarding how Trump reacted to Putin’s clear acknowledgment that he intends to continue his war effort. 

The call comes two days after the U.S. said it was halting some previously pledged military arms slated for Ukraine, and which were already in Poland, over concerns relating to U.S. stockpiles. 

PENTAGON’S WEAPONS PAUSE TO UKRAINE COULD ‘ENCOURAGE’ AND ‘ESCALATE’ PUTIN’S WAR AMBITIONS: SECURITY EXPERTS

Advertisement
Patriot air defense missile system

Ukrainian and German soldiers are seen training on the Patriot air defense missile system at a military training area in Germany in June 2024. (Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images)

While speaking with Fox News Digital this week, experts warned the move could embolden Putin and his war ambitions. 

The readout of the call released by the Kremlin did not detail whether this move by the Trump administration was discussed. 

Putin pledged to keep attacking Ukraine in call with Trump.

Members of the Ukrainian military walk amid debris after a shopping center and surrounding buildings were hit by a Russian missile strike on April 16, 2022 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.  (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

The pair also reportedly discussed the conflict in the Middle East, particularly as it relates to Iran and recent U.S. and Israeli strikes against Tehran’s nuclear program.

“The Russian side emphasized the importance of resolving all disputes, disagreements and conflict situations exclusively by political and diplomatic means,” the readout added. 

Advertisement

Continue Reading

World

Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession despite Orbán veto

Published

on

Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession despite Orbán veto
ADVERTISEMENT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do “anything” to advance EU accession talks.

“Nobody can stop Ukraine in this way. It depends on unity. From our side, we’ll do anything. We need support from all other leaders,” he said, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Danish EU Presidency in Aarhus.

Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Frederiksen vowed to support Ukraine’s accession process to join the European Union.

Denmark aims to use its presidency of the EU Council to put “maximum pressure” on Hungary to lift its veto on Ukraine’s EU membership negotiations.

Advertisement

“Ukraine belongs to the European family and NATO,” Frederiksen said, adding that Denmark is thinking about the “best way forward,” without sharing additional details.

It comes as Russia continues to intensify its attacks on Ukraine, and the United States decided to halt some promised air defence missiles and weapons, which it had already pledged to Ukraine.

When asked about the pause in military assistance, Zelenskyy said he will speak with US President Donald Trump soon, but did not go into further detail.

The Ukrainian President called on the EU to invest more in Kyiv’s defence industry.

Frederiksen said she hoped for continued US military support, but vouched to fill any gaps if necessary.

Advertisement

Speaking at an earlier press briefing alongside von der Leyen, Frederiksen emphasised a need for a change in mindset.

“When we are delivering weapons to Ukraine, instead of thinking it as donations, we have to think of it as a part of rearming ourselves,” Frederiksen said.

“Because right now it is the army in Ukraine that is protecting Europe,” she added.

Von der Leyen added that “financial possibilities are in place to directly support Ukraine,” urging member states to make use of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a €150 billion budget introduced at the end of May that will help support member states that with to invest in defence.

“Member states can take this money and either buy military equipment and give it to Ukraine, or they can take this money and invest it in the extremely efficient Ukrainian defence industry,” von der Leyen noted.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending