BRUSSELS: The European Union opened new areas of negotiations with Ukraine on Tuesday, marking a key step in Kyiv’s long path to join the bloc. The move came after Ukrainian lawmakers passed legislation protecting the rights of national minorities, removing a major hurdle in Kyiv’s bid for membership. “We have today reached another milestone on Ukraine’s EU membership journey,” said Thomas Byrne, the Europe minister for Ireland, which holds the bloc’s rotating presidency. “Today’s decision d
