UKRAINE has officially started European Union membership negotiations, launching a process requiring years of political reforms.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka opened talks in Luxembourg on Monday on helping Kiev align with the 27-member bloc’s rules.

“Aggression against Ukraine and threats against Europe is a permanent policy of Russia, so that’s why we need to be united,” Mr Kachka told journalists. “That’s why we need faster and very comprehensive accession to the EU.”

Ukraine’s government sees EU membership as a security guarantee for a stable future once the war with Russia ends. Trade arrangements with the bloc played a part in the breakdown of Ukraine-Russia relations, with the EU and US backing the violent overthrow of elected Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych (“the Maidan coup” of 2014) after he rejected a treaty that would have restricted trade with Russia. This in turn prompted the outbreak of separatist revolts in the Donbass which preceded Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Moldova also officially launched its membership talks. 

Countries hoping to join the bloc must complete negotiations in 35 policy areas, or chapters, a process which can take years.