The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed various interpretations of comments made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following the EU-Moldova summit. Spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy provided insights during a conversation with journalists, emphasizing the context of the discussions.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that her country is technically prepared to commence negotiations on all clusters, urging that the process should begin without delays. She remarked,
“This is a merit-based process, and since we are ready, I am confident it will happen,”
underscoring the urgency of the negotiations.
Von der Leyen acknowledged Moldova’s significant progress in a short time, despite the pressures faced by the nation. She noted that after the initiation of the first cluster, each candidate country bears responsibility for its reforms, which vary by state.
“Therefore, I am speaking only about Moldova, and I believe that a merit-based process is much more suitable for Moldova than the term ‘as soon as possible,’ as ‘as soon as possible’ means nothing—what does it refer to?”
Tikhiy clarified that the comments made were specifically about Moldova and not intended to compare or contrast it with Ukraine. He explained that following the opening of the first negotiation cluster, the continuation of the process adheres to a clearly defined methodology set by the European Commission. This methodology includes an individual assessment of each candidate country based on their internal benchmarks.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that Ukraine and Moldova are synchronously advancing within the negotiation framework and are consistently progressing through the stages of European integration. Tikhiy stated,
“The EU has repeatedly noted that both countries meet the necessary conditions for the opening of negotiation clusters. Therefore, there are no grounds for conclusions about any supposed ‘disconnection.'”
On June 15, all 27 EU member states agreed to open the first cluster of negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova’s accession. This decision marks a significant step in the accession process, which is divided into various clusters encompassing different policy areas.
Regarding Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations, it was reported on December 19, 2025, that the country had completed the necessary procedures to open all six negotiation clusters for EU accession. On October 2, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, urging EU leaders to initiate the clusters for Ukraine’s membership.
Despite Kyiv’s technical readiness and government approval of negotiation positions, the actual opening of the clusters requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. This principle of consensus presents a significant challenge for Ukraine at this stage.
On March 17, 2026, Prime Minister Yuliya Svyrydenko announced that the Ukrainian delegation in Brussels received the EU’s conditions for accession regarding three final negotiation clusters. European Commissioner for Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi emphasized that all six negotiation clusters for Ukraine’s accession are unofficially open at this time.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified statements regarding EU accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova, emphasizing their synchronized progress. The comments from EU officials highlighted Moldova's readiness while affirming that both countries meet necessary conditions for advancement in the negotiation process.