Overview
- Brussels’ 2025 enlargement package says Ukraine has met conditions to open negotiation clusters 1 (foundations), 2 (internal market), and 6 (external relations) after accelerated screening and reform roadmaps.
- Hungary’s veto continues to block the formal opening of clusters, even as the Commission affirms Ukraine’s readiness and urges faster reforms tied to the rule of law.
- The report warns of growing pressure on specialised anti-corruption agencies and civil society, citing criminal probes and legal steps that could weaken NABU and SAP, and calls for firm safeguards.
- Ursula von der Leyen pledged emergency energy support for the winter, and EU diplomatic sources say the Council is expected to approve a fifth Ukraine Facility tranche today.
- Kyiv reports a roughly €750 million shortfall to fund gas imports and has allocated an additional 6 billion hryvnias to harden about 120 energy sites while expanding 1.8 GW of distributed generation; Zelensky is also pushing for a year‑end EU decision to use frozen Russian assets, including a proposed €140 billion reparations‑style loan.