Zelensky on accession to EU: Ukraine has already started implementing EC recommendations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in a phone call with European Council President Charles Michel, Ukrinform reports, citing the press service of the head of state.

According to the report, both leaders discussed the situation on the front and the efforts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to counter the aggressor and liberate Ukrainian territories. Michel condemned regular Russian missile strikes at peaceful Ukrainian cities.

Zelensky said that Ukraine needs more modern heavy weapons to win. In this context, he thanked the member states for the approval of the decision to allocate the fifth package of financial assistance worth EUR 500 million as part of the European Peace Facility to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In addition, both parties discussed the introduction of the planned seventh package of EU sanctions. Zelensky emphasized the need for further significant strengthening of sanctions pressure on the aggressor country.

Zelensky thanked Michel for his leadership in granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership.

"Ukraine will not stand still and has already started to actively implement the recommendations of the European Commission to move to the next stage - the start of accession negotiations," he emphasized.

Michel, in turn, positively assessed the approval by the competition commission of the winner for the position of Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the intensification of the selection process for the Head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. He expressed confidence that other recommendations would be implemented at the same rapid pace.

Both leaders discussed the financial needs of the country to maintain its macroeconomic stability. Zelensky thanked the European Union for its decision to allocate EUR 1 billion in the framework of the new program of macro-financial assistance. At the same time, he expressed expectations for the rapid implementation of this program in full, which, according to the decision of the European Council, amounts to EUR 9 billion.

Zelensky and Michel agreed on the need to maintain proper political dialogue and discussed the holding of the 24th Ukraine-EU Summit this year.