European Union set to announce Ukraine accession talks by December

The European Union is preparing to start talks with Ukraine on its  future accession to the bloc with a formal announcement anticipated as early as December.

Three diplomats with knowledge of the plans said that leaders are getting ready to give Kyiv the green signal to start formal talks on joining the 27-nation union



before the end of the year.

A significant new initiative to increase the number of EU members to 35 is centering on Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual address to Parliament last month that Ukraine's future was "in the Union."