Overview

• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced that Ukraine is implementing all seven recommendations from the European Union to launch formal accession talks next month.
• European Council President Charles Michel, during his visit to Kyiv, has stated that Ukraine continues to get closer to the European Union and praised Kyiv's progress as remarkable.
• Charles Michel's visit to Kyiv comes as Ukraine marks 10 years since the start of mass protests that toppled a Moscow-backed president and set Kyiv on a pro-Western course.
• Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains committed to its aspirations to join the European Union, which President Zelenskiy described as a 'reality' rather than a 'romantic dream'.
• A senior EU official has indicated that the formal launch of talks next month could be 'at risk', amidst shifting global attention to other conflicts.