EU nations agree to start membership negotiations next week with Ukraine and Moldova

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union agreed Friday to start membership negotiations with embattled Ukraine and Moldova, another step in the nations’ long journey to move closer to the West and mute Russia’s influence.
Belgium, which currently holds the presidency of the EU, said member states have agreed that talks will start June 25 in Luxembourg.
Ukraine applied to join the the bloc less than a week after Russia invaded in February 2022, and EU leaders acted with uncharacterist