Zelenskyy and EU leaders agreed on Ukraine's next steps toward accession
On June 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held meetings with European Union leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. The parties agreed on a schedule for opening the next five negotiation clusters regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU and discussed the conditions for providing the first financial tranche.
Zelenskyy thanked the EU for opening the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova on June 15, calling it an important step of support—and at the same time a clear signal to Russia, which seeks to divide Europe. At the meeting with Koshta and von der Leyen, the parties outlined the next steps in the negotiation process.
“I am grateful to the EU for opening the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova. It is important to continue moving forward in the negotiation process in this direction,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media after the meeting.
Separately, the leaders discussed the EU’s 21st sanctions package, which targets Russia’s energy and financial sectors, as well as trade and cryptocurrency. Regarding funding, Ukraine expects to receive the first tranche of the support package as early as June and to use it to strengthen its air defense.
“As long as Russia intends to continue the war, we must strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and work to secure security guarantees for our country,” the president said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss further cooperation and security issues. The head of state emphasized the importance of ongoing substantive communication between the countries and expressed his gratitude to the UAE leader for his support of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy held a meeting with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Evian, where the G7 summit is taking place.
Zelenskyy entered the meeting room for the first session of the G7 summit alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
