UPDATE - EU gives green light to accession talks with Moldova, Ukraine

UPDATED WITH REMARKS FROM UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) — The EU on Friday gave the final green light to start accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine.

“The EU Council adopted the general EU positions, incl. negotiating frameworks, for accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova,” announced the Belgium Presidency of the EU Council on X.

“This opens the way for launching the negotiations on Tuesday 25 June in Luxembourg,” it added.

Commenting on the development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the EU Council and the Belgium Presidency for "their robust political will," on X.

Congratulating Moldova, he said, "We will make the EU stronger together."

"Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realizing their European dream. Ukraine is returning to Europe, where it has belonged for centuries, as a full-fledged member of the European community," Zelenskyy added.

In early June, the European Commission recommended negotiations on Moldova and Ukraine's accession to the 27-member bloc.