Ukraine will become full-fledged member of EU – address by Ukrainian leaders

President Volodymyr Zelensky, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal recorded an address on the occasion of the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

The video was published on the President's website, Ukrinform reports.

“When we signed the application for EU membership together on the fifth day of the full-scale war, many said it was nothing but a dream. But we made this dream a reality. We attained this, persuaded, and dispelled every doubt. In June 2022, Ukraine's candidate status was approved despite opposition. In December 2023, European leaders supported the political decision to start negotiations with Ukraine. Today, the negotiations begin,” stated Zelensky.

According to him, until today, Ukraine was a country that had gained candidate status for membership, but there was not yet complete certainty about realizing this status. As of today, there is confidence – Ukraine will definitely become a full member of the European Union.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that the intergovernmental conferences involve working between Ukraine and representatives of all EU states on parts of the future agreement on Ukraine's accession. “According to the approved negotiating framework, we will go through all the sections of our relations and reach an agreement on each of them. We will definitely achieve this – just as we will achieve all other Ukrainian goals,” the prime minister said.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed that every country that has become an EU member has gone through a similar format of negotiations. “Ukraine will aim to do this faster than others, but invariably in the common interests of our country and the whole of Europe. We have adopted, are adopting and will continue to adopt all the necessary laws to ensure that Ukraine never separates from the European home again. We thank everyone who stands with Ukraine, everyone who believes in our people, who works with Ukraine, thus ensuring a stable future for the whole of Europe, secure from aggression,” Stefanchuk said.

As reported, on June 25, negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union started at the First Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg.

Photo: President’s Office

Video: President’s Office