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involves checking Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU law. The screening process will start immediately, and the first step is to form multidisciplinary teams covering all acquis (EU legal acts). The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, has agreed with Belgium, which presides over the EU, on the next steps for launching accession negotiations. He added, “Our common goal is to convene the intergovernmental conference to hold the first round of Ukraine’s EU accession talks in due time.”
NATO to conduct largest drills in decades with 90,000 troops. NATO will launch its most extensive military exercise in recent decades, involving about 90,000 troops, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, said on Jan. 18.
Deputy PM denies alleged pressure on EU to return refugees to Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna's comment came after Politico, citing unnamed European diplomats, reported that Ukraine is allegedly negotiating with the EU to establish new rules to encourage the return of Ukrainian refugees in 2025.
EU begins screening of Ukrainian legislation in first step toward accession talks. The European Commission has started assessing Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU laws, which "lays the groundwork for the (membership) negotiations," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 25.
Scholz on security guarantees for Ukraine: 'I assume we will finalize it soon.' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he expects Kyiv and Berlin to agree on security guarantees "soon" during the press conference on January 24.
Romanian far-right leader lays claim on Ukrainian regions, Moldova. Claudiu Tarziu, one of the leaders of Romania's far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, said his country should "reunite" with Moldova and the Ukrainian border regions of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and Zakarpattia, the G4Media online outlet reported on Jan. 27.
Ukraine Reconstruction Forum in Istanbul brings its first results. On January 31, the Forum on the Reconstruction of Ukraine brought increases to the trade potential between Turkey and Ukraine, said Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov. He added that “We have a common goal to attract private investments to restore Ukraine's infrastructure and make the Black Sea a zone of cooperation, trade, and economic growth.” The minister emphasized that Ukraine's priorities will be projects to restore energy, housing, and critical and social infrastructure this year. Following meetings between Ukraine and Turkish government officials, it became known that companies are ready to invest in developing maritime logistics, infrastructure, and roads. During the forum in Istanbul, the Ukrainian-Turkish Reconstruction Task Force was created. It will provide for the following priority areas of cooperation:
● Restoration of road infrastructure and construction of temporary bridges and overpasses on key routes.
● Projects for the restoration and development of water transport infrastructure.
● Protection for critical infrastructure and housing restoration.
● Collaboration in the aviation industry
18 UKRAINE Country Report February 2024 www.intellinews.com