Everything you need to know about EU's first step to making Ukraine's membership real

The European Commission published a document on Oct. 6 about the future of EU enlargement, a first step toward making Ukraine's eventual accession feel real, but also laying bare some of the work the bloc needs to do to be ready.

While Brussels singled out Ukraine as one of only four candidates showing "meaningful reform progress," officials warn that integrating Kyiv's massive agricultural sector and reconstruction needs will require targeted arrangements to avoid breaking the bloc's budget.

Photo: Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images.