European Union states have officially approved the start of membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova next week, another step in the two countries' long journey to join the bloc.
Belgium, which chairs the EU, has said member states have agreed on a negotiating framework, AP reported.
"This paves the way for the start of negotiations on Tuesday, June 25, in Luxembourg."
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has called this a "historic step".
"Millions of Ukrainians and generations of our people are realizing their European dream. Ukraine is returning to Europe, where it has had its place for centuries, as a full member of the European community," he wrote in X.
European Union leaders agreed last year to start accession negotiations with both countries.
The process between the start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and their EU membership may take many years.
