President Zelensky "finalizes" the negotiating team, realizing the European dream

Ukrainian President approves the composition of the EU accession negotiation team. (Source: Getty Images)

Specifically, the negotiating delegation is led by Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishya.

In addition, the delegation will include Chief of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and his deputy Ihor Zhovkva, First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Oleksandr Korniyenko, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets, Deputy Minister of Energy Svitlana Srynchuk and a number of other officials.

There were 34 negotiators in total.

According to the decree on the formation of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation, the head of the delegation is allowed to change the composition of the delegation and distribute responsibilities among its members.

The Government of Ukraine is responsible for ensuring the establishment and approval of the individual composition of expert negotiating groups to prepare Kiev's negotiating position with the EU for concluding the agreement.

Previously, on June 21, the alliance member states agreed to start the accession negotiations with Ukraine from June 25.

President Zelensky welcomed the talks, saying they would be an official step marking the beginning of Kiev's path towards joining the bloc.

“Millions of Ukrainians and generations of our people are realizing their European dream,” he stressed.

However, observers are concerned that efforts to admit Kiev will face obstacles from a number of member countries, notably Hungary - the country that will take over the rotating EU presidency next July.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also repeatedly voiced concerns that European support for Ukraine, especially in the military field, could prolong and expand the conflict.