The EU has officially started negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova

On June 25, the European Union officially began membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

This was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

"This is very good news for the people of Ukraine, Moldova and the entire European Union. The path ahead will be challenging but full of opportunities. We wish a successful start to the negotiations," she wrote on Twitter.

According to her, the people of Ukraine and Moldova have demonstrated "unwavering commitment" to joining the European Union. Both countries have embarked on extensive reforms, but Ukraine and Moldova still face a "strict and demanding" journey.

Ursula von der Leyen also explained that the accession negotiations were necessary to prepare the country for EU membership, and therefore, they cannot be a "short-cut."

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