The European Union on Tuesday opened its sixth negotiating cluster with Ukraine, covering foreign policy and defence, marking the second area of membership talks launched since the fundamentals cluster debuted in mid-June. Irish European affairs minister Thomas Byrne, chairing the Intergovernmental Conference, called the move an important milestone in Kyiv's path toward accession.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister [Taras Kachka said the accession process is proceeding without disruption](https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art44820081-ue-otworzyla-kolejny-klast er-w-rozmowach-akcesyjnych-z-ukraina), despite President Volodymyr Zelensky's weekend announcement that he would dismiss Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Kachka added that Kyiv aims to complete technical accession work by late 2027. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said the Commission considers all remaining clusters ready to open as soon as possible, with Kyiv hoping to unlock every group before July ends.
Moldova also opened its sixth cluster at a separate conference, while Montenegro closed two additional chapters, bringing its total to 18 of 35. Albania held its own accession conference the same day.