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Momentum in Accession
Ursula von der Leyen said she has the impression that "the tide is turning" in the war in Ukraine, pointing to Ukraine gaining ground and to "there is a special momentum" after what El Mundo described as the largest drone attack ever recorded.
El Mundo said the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday focused on the process of Ukraine’s accession, with the EU having already opened the first cluster for both the country led by Volodímir Zelenski and for Moldavia.
El Mundo added that Viktor Orban was no longer there after previously blocking decisions, and that António Costa said "Now we have all 27 Member States united in supporting Ukraine."
El Mundo reported that Zelenski is pressuring government leaders to open new negotiation clusters, and that von der Leyen said, "We hope that during the summer we can open more clusters."
Zelenski’s Schedule
After the opening of the first cluster of negotiations on accession to the European Union, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was important to keep advancing the process and discussed the schedule for opening the next five clusters.
Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, "Grateful to the EU for opening the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova," and added, "It is important to continue moving forward in the negotiation process in this direction."
Interfax-Ukraine reported that Zelenskyy met with President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Interfax-Ukraine said Zelenskyy told leaders that "As long as Russia intends to continue the war, it is necessary to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense" and to work on aligning security guarantees for Ukraine.
Security, Sanctions, and Unity
Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, said that not only the government but Ukrainian society as a whole must unite to seize the momentum Ukraine is building on its path toward membership in the European Union.
“Zelenskyy: after opening of first cluster, important to maintain momentum of EU accession negotiations President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following the opening of the first cluster of negotiations on accession to the European Union, has said the importance of further advancing the process in this direction and discussed the schedule for opening the next five clusters”
UATV English reported Kos saying Ukraine’s membership is "a central issue for Europe’s future because building a Europe that is truly responsible for its own security can only succeed with a strong, prosperous, and stable Ukraine."
El Mundo said the European Council meeting was also marked by contacts the EU has recently maintained with Moscow for possible peace negotiations, with Council sources confirming that Costa’s office held a "brief" conversation with the Kremlin.
El Mundo quoted the Council saying that "nothing substantive was discussed," while it also described a view that it is impossible to trust Vladimir Putin and that the so-called E3 formed by Germany, France and the United Kingdom should take on any possible interlocution.
