Zelenskyy reshuffles EU accession negotiation team, appointing Kachka as chief negotiator

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has amended the composition of Ukraine's delegation for negotiations with the European Union on the country's accession agreement, appointing Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka as chief negotiator.

The document introduces changes to the initial decree of 21 June 2024.

The amendments provide for the inclusion or confirmation in the delegation of around 20 officials representing various ministries and agencies of Ukraine.

Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, has been designated chief negotiator and head of the delegation.

The decree also removes the previous head of the delegation, Olha Stefanishyna, and 15 other members.

Stefanishyna has served as Ukraine's ambassador to the United States since late August 2025.

In late December, Kachka referred to a package of agreements on Ukraine's further progress towards EU membership, reached amid Hungary's veto, as the "Lviv format".

He has also said that the full impact of EU accession would be visible in 10 years, but Ukraine is prepared for such a long-term perspective.