EU to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova as civilian casualties rise and US plans military cuts

The European Union is set to commence accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on June 15, opening the "Foundations" cluster which focuses on rule of law and public administration. This development was confirmed by the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council. Concurrently, a UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission report indicated that May 2026 recorded the highest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine in four years, attributed to ongoing Russian aggression. Separately, the United States plans to significantly reduce its military aircraft and warships allocated for NATO operations in Europe. European officials have expressed concerns that this reduction could impact NATO's long-range strike and reconnaissance capabilities.

Sources: Громадське, Українська правда