Brussels, 30 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The European Commission has concluded negotiations with Ukraine on a revised free trade agreement.

The agreement aims to gradually integrate Ukraine into the EU single market, the commission announced on Monday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the agreement also aims to secure trade flows and express solidarity with the country, which is under attack from Russia.

The commission announced that the EU would benefit from lower tariffs or complete tariff exemptions.

Ukraine would be able to "continue to export at least the same quantities as in previous years" for many products. In addition, Ukraine has committed to gradually adopting EU standards on issues such as animal welfare and pesticide use.

The agreement focuses on agricultural goods. Both sides agreed on certain quotas that can be imported and exported duty-free or at particularly favourable conditions.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, farmers – especially in the east of the EU – opposed cheap imports from Ukraine because they saw them as unfair competition. Around 100 days after the war began in February 2022, the EU exempted Ukrainian goods from import duties.

Ukraine has a relatively large agricultural sector, which accounted for more than 7% of its economic output in 2023. By comparison, in Germany it is less than 1%.

There are to be particularly strict rules for exports to the EU of goods such as wheat, maize, sugar, honey, poultry and eggs from Ukraine. In response to farmers' concerns, the EU introduced stricter import requirements for these products last year.

The EU member states and the European Parliament are now being informed about the details of the agreement. The commission will then submit a formal decision to the EU member states, which must approve it.

MIA file photo