Ukraine has fulfilled conditions for starting EU accession talks, Germany says

The German government has announced that Ukraine has fulfilled the requirements for reforms necessary to start negotiations on joining the European Union.

Anna Lührmann, Germany's Minister of State for Europe and Climate, urged all EU member states to agree on a draft negotiating framework as soon as possible.

"The German government believes that Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements in order to be able to start negotiations on EU accession in June," she said in an interview with DPA news agency.

On 29 May, reports emerged that Hungary had blocked the approval of the draft negotiating framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU at a meeting of EU ambassadors over the issue of minority rights.

The EU is still seeking to officially start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova by the end of June, but this requires the unanimity of all EU states, including Hungary's consent.

June is a crucial month, as Hungary's six-month presidency of the EU Council begins in July. Hungary could potentially use its presidency to slow down decisions on Ukraine.

In addition, the EU-Ukraine intergovernmental conference, considered to be the start of the accession talks, will almost certainly not take place on 25 June, as had previously been announced in the media.