Russia must accept our way west

Zelenskiy: Ukraine deserves concrete prospects of EU membership

With a view to the EU-Ukraine summit this Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has called for concrete accession prospects for his country. “I believe that Ukraine deserves to start negotiations on EU membership already this year,” said Zelenskyy in his evening address on Thursday. Further integration into the European Union would give Ukrainians “energy and motivation to fight despite all obstacles and threats”.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel want to meet with Zelenskyj in Kyiv this Friday. Ukraine has had candidate country status since June. However, it usually takes many years to become a member. Another topic of the summit, which takes place under strict security precautions, is additional European support in the war against Russia.

In view of the difficult situation – especially in the east – Zelenskyi reiterated his call for increased pressure on Russia. Strategically, Russia’s defeat is already foreseeable. “But tactically they still have resources for offensive attempts. They are looking for ways to change the course of the war.”

According to a report by the Ukrinform agency, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov once again called for longer-range missiles for his country. Ukraine is also ready to guarantee that no attacks on Russian territory will be carried out. The war has now lasted more than eleven months.


source site-11