Deputy PM: Ukraine to start talks next week on readiness for EU

Ukraine will open discussions with the European Commission next week on the readiness of the Ukrainian state for EU membership, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on Dec. 15.

The European Commission recently agreed to launch accession talks with Ukraine during the two-day summit in Brussels. Kyiv is still looking at years of arduous talks before the actual membership.

"Next week, negotiations will begin with the European Commission on analyzing our state structure and its readiness for the European Union," Stefanishyna said on television.

The work of the Ukrainian team is currently planned out for three months, she added.

"We will prepare negotiating frameworks, prepare for negotiations, and form negotiating teams. This process already started today."