Ukraine and Moldova Will Continue Their Path Toward the EU Separately: von der Leyen Explained Why
22 June 20:47
Following the official opening of accession negotiations, the future trajectory of Ukraine’s and Moldova’s European integration will depend on the extent to which each candidate country meets the criteria set by the European Union.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made this statement during a joint press conference with European Council President António Costa and Moldovan President Maia Sandu, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Once the first cluster is opened, each candidate country is responsible for itself, because they must fulfill their reform commitments, and these reforms vary from one candidate country to another,” she explained.
Von der Leyen emphasized that progress will be assessed solely on the basis of achievements. According to her, this provides countries with clear guidelines on the necessary reforms, after which the EU, for its part, will fulfill its obligations.
António Costa emphasized that this approach does not mean slowing down the process, as the pace of progress directly depends on the speed of reforms. He noted that Moldova is demonstrating strong momentum in fulfilling its commitments.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
At the same time, the President of the European Council highlighted the importance of the geopolitical context, which requires all parties to act with greater speed and determination without lowering accession standards.
“Both candidate countries and member states must understand and feel the urgency of fulfilling their commitments. This does not mean that we should forget about the criteria. It means that everyone must work harder and faster to meet the criteria and move forward as quickly as possible,” he added.
Ukraine’s European Integration — What We Know
All EU member states finally agreed to open the first cluster for Ukraine and Moldova on June 15, a move that top European officials have already called “a defining moment for Europe.”
Ukraine and Moldova received official EU candidate status back in June 2022. In January 2025, the European Commission recommended launching formal negotiations to bring the legislation of both countries into line with European standards.
On the eve of the current meeting in Luxembourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted Kyiv’s significant progress on the path to reform, emphasizing that over the past year, Ukraine has taken a huge step toward the European community. At the same time, discussions are ongoing in Western media and diplomatic circles regarding the pace of the bloc’s expansion.
In particular, The Guardian, citing European officials, noted that completing the technical phase of negotiations with Ukraine is entirely realistic within four years. Meanwhile, behind the scenes in the EU, there is discussion about the possibility of a future split between Ukraine and Moldova, as, according to some European diplomats, Chisinau is currently moving forward with a series of domestic reforms somewhat faster than Kyiv.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
