On June 8, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, arrived in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing reforms aimed at European Union membership. The visit focuses on bolstering political and public support for Ukraine’s European integration and addressing post-war recovery efforts.
During her visit, Várhelyi met with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and other senior government officials to review the progress of reforms and outline EU support priorities, particularly in preparation for the upcoming winter.
She also held discussions with Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, and other parliamentary leaders to emphasize the necessity of achieving a broad political consensus on EU-related reforms. According to the parliament’s press service, Várhelyi noted that Ukraine’s reform implementation level is currently assessed at 87%.
Additionally, Várhelyi is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at a public event titled “Ukraine’s Accession: How to Achieve the Next Enlargement of Europe” and will engage with female leaders to discuss their role in shaping the political landscape.
On June 3, the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council began preparations for the official launch of the first cluster in the accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova.
On December 19, 2025, it was reported that Ukraine had completed the necessary procedures to open all six negotiation clusters for EU membership. On October 2, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, urging EU leaders to open the accession clusters for Ukraine.
Despite Kyiv’s technical readiness and government approval of negotiation positions, a unanimous decision from all 27 EU member states is required to officially open the clusters. This principle of consensus poses a significant challenge for Ukraine at this stage.
On March 17, 2026, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the Ukrainian delegation in Brussels received the EU’s conditions for accession regarding the final three negotiation clusters. Commissioner Várhelyi emphasized that all six negotiation clusters for Ukraine’s EU accession are currently unofficially open.
EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi visited Kyiv on June 8 to discuss Ukraine's reforms for EU membership and to emphasize the importance of political consensus. The visit included meetings with key government officials and a focus on preparations for winter support.