The European Council has opened membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, the President of the EU Council, Charles Michel informed on Thursday, CNN reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the development calling it a "victory of Ukraine". "This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens," Zelensky posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"History is made by those who don't get tired of fighting for freedom," he added. Notably, Ukraine has held ambitions to join the European Union for more than a decade. The announcement by the European Council comes nearly two years after the bloc accepted Ukraine as a candidate state. However, a few fundamental obstacles stand in the way of Ukraine joining the bloc and it could still be a decade until Kyiv joins the EU enjoying the benefits of full membership, according to CNN.