Photo: AFP / Diego Ravier
European leaders have not only decided to begin talks with Ukraine, the door is also open for Moldova and for Georgia to be granted candidate status.
The sudden move has come at a summit in Brussels with a spokesperson for the European Council President saying the agreement was unanimous.
Hungary which has previously held out - on having talks with Ukraine, did not oppose the move.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's delighted with the EU announcement.
Freelance journalist Rosie Birchard has been at the summit.
