British News Agency

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the official opening of Cluster 6 – External Relations as part of the country's European Union (EU) accession negotiations.

In a statement, the ministry said the new negotiation cluster covers foreign policy, security and defense, trade, humanitarian assistance, and development cooperation, representing key elements of the EU's external policy framework.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, whose remarks were included in the statement, recalled that Chapter 31 within Cluster 6 falls under the reform responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He noted that Ukraine's foreign policy has reached a 99 percent alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy in recent years.

Sybiha stated that this level of alignment provides a solid foundation for the rapid progress of the accession negotiations.

The ministry emphasized that the opening of Cluster 6 is a concrete demonstration of Ukraine's efforts to align with EU sanctions, strengthen coordination under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and integrate into European defense mechanisms.

The statement added that Ukraine remains committed to continuing reforms in this area and expects the remaining negotiation clusters to be opened as well.

The Ukrainian government also expressed its gratitude to the European Commission, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the member states for their support throughout the accession process.