Ukraine is getting an encouraging sign in its bid to join the EU

The European Union’s executive branch recommended on Wednesday that the bloc open accession talks with Ukraine, an encouraging step for the government in Kiev in what remains a long and difficult accession process.

The recommendation from the executive branch, the European Commission, comes with the caveat that Ukraine must take steps to tackle corruption, protect minorities and limit the power of oligarchs.

The final decision on whether to open talks rests with the leaders of the 27 EU member states, and they are expected to discuss the issue at a summit next month, potentially paving the way for detailed negotiations to begin.

Such a move would send a strong political signal about the European Union’s support for Ukraine, which is struggling to maintain the support of its allies in the face of a stalling counteroffensive against Russia, while much of the world’s attention is focused on to Israel’s war with Hamas.

“Ukraine continues to face enormous hardships and tragedies caused by Russia’s war of aggression,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. “And yet Ukrainians are deeply transforming their country, even as they wage a war that is existential for them.”

The EU granted Ukraine conditional candidate status last year, and the commission said on Wednesday that the country had implemented 90 percent of the changes needed to reach deeper talks.

The committee also recommended opening negotiations with Moldova, a neighbor of Ukraine that has fought the threat of Russian interference, and with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The process of joining the European Union normally takes more than ten years.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine praised the Commission’s recommendation in a speech published on social media.

“Today the history of Ukraine and all of Europe has taken the right step,” Zelensky said. “Ukrainians are and will always remain part of our common European family. Our country must be part of the European Union.”

Constant Méheut contributed reporting from Kiev, Ukraine.