Candidate to the European Union since June 2022, Ukraine can accelerate the long process of accession.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that his country, invaded by Russia at the end of February 2022, deserved to start talks “this year” with a view to entering the European Union.
“I think that Ukraine deserves to start negotiations this year on its accession to the EU”, declared Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine, an official candidate for EU membership since June 2022, is hosting a summit on Friday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.
A “mutual” understanding
According to Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian and European officials have a “mutual understanding”: “That only together can a strong Ukraine and a strong European Union protect the life we hold dear”.
“And that our future integration must give energy and motivation to our population to fight against obstacles and threats,” he continued, believing that international pressure on Russia should still increase.
“The enemy is at a particular stage where Russia’s strategic defeat is clearly apparent,” he said. “But, tactically, they still have the resources to attempt offensive actions.”
Stand “by the side of Ukraine”
Ursula von der Leyen assured Ukraine of the full support of the European Union, arriving in kyiv on Thursday accompanied by her commissioners.
“Good to be back in Kyiv, my fourth time since the Russian invasion and this time with my team of stewards,” she tweeted. “We are here together to show that the EU stands firmly with Ukraine.”
Ursula von der Leyen is accompanied by the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell and around fifteen European commissioners who are to meet their colleagues from the Ukrainian government.
The Commission described this visit as a “strong symbol” of European support for Ukraine “in the face of unjustified aggression” from Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned in May that the process of integrating the European Union could take “decades”.
