Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, is convinced that unblocking technical negotiations with the EU will allow the process to be completed faster than the European Commission requests.

Source: Kachka after an informal meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Lviv, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kachka said that the acceleration is supported by the fact that the negotiations now concern not only technical issues but also security matters. He also referred to the European Commission's assessment.

Quote: "This fall, the communication from the European Commission was to conclude negotiations in 2028. It means that all our homework [required to complete the negotiation process – ed.] should be done in the next 24 months.

Taking into account that [Ukraine's] accession [to the EU] is one of the cornerstones of talks about future peace and then security guarantees, this term could be even shorter than 24 months."

Details: Kachka also acknowledged that there is currently no reason to view Hungary's blocking as an obstacle to Ukraine's further progress, since everything now depends on Ukraine's own actions.

"Let's be aware that everything depends on Ukraine. Now it's 100% about Ukrainian reform, and it will depend on how fast we will be able to move," he said.

Background:

• Earlier in Lviv, the EU announced the launch of a new format of technical talks with Ukraine, which is not subject to the Hungarian veto.
• Kachka also confirmed at the meeting that Ukraine is beginning its EU accession process under a new scheme.

Read more: Frontloading: EU's alternative path to break Hungary's veto on Ukraine's accession talks

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon !