Ukraine begins EU accession talks, acknowledges years of reforms amid war with Russia

Ukraine has officially opened formal talks on joining the European Union. The government announced the start of accession negotiations this week. Kyiv acknowledges that meeting EU standards will require extensive reforms. Reforms span the judiciary, anti‑corruption measures, and market regulations. The process is expected to take several years before any membership is granted. All of this unfolds while Ukraine continues its armed conflict with Russia. International partners stress the importance of aligning reforms with security needs. The EU will assess Ukraine’s progress in upcoming review meetings.