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Ukraine and Moldova set to launch EU membership talks. It's a dream come true for Ukraine's leader
![Uncredited In this image released by Moldova's President, Moldova's President Maia Sandu signs the decree on initiating Moldova's EU accession negotiations in Chisinau, Moldova, Friday, June 21, 2024. 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. (Moldovan Presidency via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/3405c1062ab047c4832c0c7a9eda74e4/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this image released by Moldova's President, Moldova's President Maia Sandu signs the decree on initiating Moldova's EU accession negotiations in Chisinau, Moldova, Friday, June 21, 2024. 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. (Moldovan Presidency via AP)
![Andreea Alexandru FILE - Girls walk by a EU flag installation in a park in Chisinau, Moldova, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union later on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Moldova will also set its accession process in motion, as the EU hosts two intergovernmental conferences in Luxembourg. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/e7c687e7e67c4bf6ad9f0217492388eb/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Girls walk by a EU flag installation in a park in Chisinau, Moldova, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union later on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Moldova will also set its accession process in motion, as the EU hosts two intergovernmental conferences in Luxembourg. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, File)
![Efrem Lukatsky FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaks during a joint press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. The European Union agreed Friday, June 21, 2024, 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. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/b91c55e0db714f5daecad049a355178a/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaks during a joint press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. The European Union agreed Friday, June 21, 2024, 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. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)
![Efrem Lukatsky FILE - President of Moldova Maia Sandu, right, speaks during a joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The European Union agreed Friday, June 21, 2024, 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. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/7448cdbf72114e3192373a83a8a6e1b7/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - President of Moldova Maia Sandu, right, speaks during a joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The European Union agreed Friday, June 21, 2024, 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. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)
![Virginia Mayo FILE - From left, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Council President Charles Michel walk together to a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union later on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Moldova will also set its accession process in motion, as the EU hosts two intergovernmental conferences in Luxembourg. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/e6a3e9fd832748768ccf20397573397b/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - From left, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Council President Charles Michel walk together to a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union later on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Moldova will also set its accession process in motion, as the EU hosts two intergovernmental conferences in Luxembourg. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
![Aurel Obreja FILE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, stands next to Moldova's President Maia Sandu, in Chisinau, Moldova, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. The European Union agreed Friday, June 21, 2024, 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. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/44ff42a76f7b4122a66bb70404bd43af/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, stands next to Moldova's President Maia Sandu, in Chisinau, Moldova, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. The European Union agreed Friday, June 21, 2024, 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. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja, File)
![Aurel Obreja FILE - People holding European Union and Moldovan flags fill the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the end of a rally called by President Maia Sandu, aiming to show the country's support for European Union accession. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union later on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Moldova will also set its accession process in motion, as the EU hosts two intergovernmental conferences in Luxembourg. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/0fb346e0eecb432ba65b971a6bef5f68/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - People holding European Union and Moldovan flags fill the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the end of a rally called by President Maia Sandu, aiming to show the country's support for European Union accession. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union later on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Moldova will also set its accession process in motion, as the EU hosts two intergovernmental conferences in Luxembourg. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja, File)
![Olivier Matthys FILE- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy poses for a picture before an EU summit at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described as a dream come true for his country's citizens more than two years into a war with Russia. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/22df70d58d074cf48c87d286a03239a8/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy poses for a picture before an EU summit at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ukraine is set to officially launch membership talks with the European Union on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described as a dream come true for his country's citizens more than two years into a war with Russia. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, File)