On June 15, the European Union officially commenced its first cluster of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova regarding their potential accession to the bloc. This decision was reached during an intergovernmental conference held in Luxembourg, where all EU member states agreed to open discussions.
“Today we are starting negotiations on the foundational aspects of the accession process, including justice, freedom, and fundamental rights. We recognize the diligent efforts of these countries and reward it with a clear path forward,” stated the EU’s press service.
In related developments, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of advancing efforts to conclude the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Following discussions with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump indicated a renewed focus on peace initiatives.
“We had a very productive conversation with President Zelensky and President Putin yesterday. I believe we may be able to make progress in this direction. I think they are both ready for it,” Trump remarked.
Trump’s comments came after his arrival at the Royal Hotel in Évian for the G7 summit, where he had previously spoken with Zelensky, who had called to congratulate him on his 80th birthday.
President Zelensky also addressed the potential for a meeting with Putin, asserting that Ukraine had offered to meet in any format conducive to making concrete decisions to end the war. He made these remarks during the EU intergovernmental conference.
Zelensky noted that discussions had taken place with both the U.S. and France regarding a possible meeting with Russia during the G7 summit, which would include democratic nations.
“We proposed to meet with Putin anywhere that could lead to real decisions to end the war. He does not want this. We discussed with the U.S. and France the possibility of a meeting with Russia at the G7 involving all democratic states. Putin does not want this,” Zelensky stated.
He further mentioned that he had discussed organizing such a meeting in the U.S. with Trump, suggesting that it would be more difficult for Putin to decline an invitation from the U.S. president.
In a separate development, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, not recognized by several democratic nations, described the involvement of Belarus in the conflict as unacceptable. He assured that Ukraine has no cause for concern regarding threats from Belarus and extended an apology to Zelensky for previous harsh remarks.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya, Lukashenko addressed Ukrainian concerns about a potential new Russian offensive from Belarusian territory, claiming that both he and Putin are not interested in Belarus’s direct involvement in the war.
Lukashenko acknowledged that Belarus could be vulnerable if Ukraine were to attack, emphasizing that critical infrastructure would be at risk.
Despite his apologies, he advised Zelensky to exercise caution and avoid provoking Belarus.
In military cooperation news, Armenia is set to conduct annual military exercises, Eagle Partner-2026, from June 17 to 25, involving NATO countries including the U.S., France, and Greece. The Armenian Ministry of Defense announced that approximately 250 personnel from Armenia’s peacekeeping brigade will participate, alongside troops from the U.S. European and African ground forces, the Kansas National Guard, and military representatives from France and Greece.
The exercises aim to enhance skills in preparing and executing peacekeeping missions. Previously, only the armed forces of Armenia and the U.S. participated in these drills, which began in September 2023.
The EU has initiated formal negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova regarding their accession, while U.S. President Trump expresses hope for peace in Ukraine. Belarusian President Lukashenko has distanced his country from the conflict and apologized to Zelensky, amidst ongoing military exercises in Armenia with NATO forces.