EU to open accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova; US military drawdown and space nuclear weapon concerns noted

The European Union is set to formally commence accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on June 15, opening the "Foundations" cluster covering rule of law, public administration, and democratic governance. This development follows a UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission report indicating that May 2026 recorded the highest civilian casualties in Ukraine in four years, attributed to ongoing Russian aggression. Concurrently, the Bundeswehr's Space Command Commander, Michael Traut, raised concerns that Russia might be developing technology for space-based nuclear warheads, which could potentially render parts of orbit unusable for decades. Separately, reports indicate the United States intends to significantly reduce its military aircraft and warship contributions to NATO operations in Europe, a move European officials fear could diminish NATO's long-range strike and reconnaissance capabilities.

Sources: Громадське, Українська правда