Ukraine moves towards the EU, Brussels accelerates negotiations: clash within the majority over the League's "no" vote.

Ukraine's European Union accession process is gaining significant momentum. The EU Commission aims to present to the General Affairs Council on June 16 a proposal to open the first set of negotiating chapters, the so-called first cluster, not only for Kyiv, but also for Moldova. The move could then be submitted to the European leaders' summit scheduled for June 18-19, marking a new political phase in relations between Brussels and Ukraine.

The change in Budapest reopens the dossier

The shift in Hungary's political landscape, with Viktor Orban's departure and Peter Magyar's rise to power, would also contribute to this shift. For years, Budapest had been a major obstacle to Kiev's European advancement. The new Hungarian prime minister, more focused on mending relations with Brussels, could meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming days, in a diplomatic move considered crucial to unblocking the issue.

The League's reaction: a clear no to Kiev's entry

In Italy, the European acceleration has provoked a harsh reaction from the League, which has declared itself "absolutely opposed" to any possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union. According to the League, Kiev does not yet meet the necessary requirements and its entry into the EU would cause "enormous economic and social damage." This position reopens the issue of internal disagreements within the majority on the Ukrainian issue.

Meloni confirms her stance of support for Kiev

Government circles, however, dismiss the League's stance as normal political dialectics. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's stance remains one of support for Ukraine's European path, albeit without immediate and automatic openings. After her last meeting with Zelensky, the prime minister reiterated her hope for Kiev's EU accession, consistently linking Ukraine's accession process to that of other candidate countries, particularly the Western Balkans.

Tajani: In favor of the process, but priority should be given to the Balkans

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed his support for Ukraine and Moldova's European accession, while emphasizing that Italy's priority remains the Balkans. For the Deputy Prime Minister, Kiev and Chisinau must continue with reforms, fight corruption, and fully comply with the rules required for European Union membership. Forza Italia thus distances itself from the League's ideological "no," while maintaining a cautious stance on timing.

The issue of European funds and agricultural policy

Within the majority, there are concerns about the economic impact of Ukraine's future accession. These concerns primarily concern cohesion funds and the Common Agricultural Policy, two sensitive areas for many member states. Kiev's potential accession, given its territorial size, agricultural influence, and reconstruction needs, would require a profound redefinition of Europe's financial balance.

The Merz proposal and the hypothesis of a middle way

Also on the table at the European level is German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's proposal to associate Ukraine with the European Union before full membership, which will take a long time. This would be a more gradual process, designed to send a strong political signal to Kiev without immediately completing the entire accession process. Rome is evaluating the proposal, seeking a balance between supporting Ukraine and safeguarding the path already underway by the Western Balkans.

The opposition attacks the majority

The opposition has seized on the political divide within the majority. The Democratic Party has called on Meloni to disown the League, accusing Matteo Salvini's party of pursuing a pro-Russian agenda. Italia Viva has spoken of a government short-circuit on a strategic issue. The Five Star Movement, however, has remained more discreet, its silence not going unnoticed in the political debate.

Zelensky asks allies for more air defense

While Brussels debates Kiev's European future, the war continues to weigh on the diplomatic landscape. Zelensky wrote to US President Donald Trump and Congress, calling for swift action to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, particularly with munitions for Patriot systems. The Ukrainian president explained that protection from Russian ballistic missiles is also crucial to making any diplomatic prospect credible.

War remains the context of European choice

Ukraine's accession process is increasingly intertwined with the ongoing conflict. Kiev insists on the need to link security, military support, and European integration, while Moscow continues to challenge Western decisions. The European Commission is now preparing for a delicate political transition: opening the first negotiating cluster would mean transforming support for Kiev into a more concrete institutional process, but one that will face resistance, lengthy delays, and internal tensions within member states.