Ukraine could sign EU accession treaty by 2027, ratification to take several years – Kachka

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka said this during a question-and-answer session with the government in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukrinform's correspondent reports.

He recalled that in March, Ukraine received the second part of the conditions from the EU required to technically complete negotiations across all chapters. In total, Ukraine faces 145 EU requirements, which, Kachka noted, were all discussed during screening sessions of Ukrainian legislation and are considered achievable.

According to Kachka, Ukraine must next formalize the opening of six negotiation clusters at an intergovernmental conference with the 27 EU member states, expected no later than July.

"This will serve as the starting signal for successfully completing the negotiations, as this is the final substantive stage of the accession talks. Based on our previous work and the experience of other EU countries, the negotiation chapters can be closed within the next 12-18 months," the official said.

Kachka added that next year Ukraine plans to move toward signing the EU accession treaty, which will then require ratification by EU member states and Ukraine – a process that will also take several years.

As Ukrinform previously reported, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos expressed hope that, with the help of Hungary's future government, all negotiation clusters on Ukraine's EU accession will soon be officially opened.