BRUSSELS, Dec 20 – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirms that if Ukraine continues to do its homework on moving towards EU membership, Brussels will be ready to open the first cluster of accession negotiations early next year.

She said this on Thursday in Brussels at a press conference that took place after the meeting of the European Council. This was the last meeting of the year. “We continue to accompany Ukraine on its path of accession to our Union. If Ukraine keeps up the good work, we should be ready to open the first cluster of accession negotiations early next year,” von der Leyen recalled.