Ukraine expects to complete talks on accession to EU in less than two years - Shmyhal

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this at a government meeting on Friday, January 13, Ukrinform reports.

He noted that Ukraine is currently completing the implementation of seven recommendations of the European Commission, which will allow the next steps for integration to be launched. Ukraine should also analyze the compliance of its legislation with the legislation of the European Union in order to clearly understand the scope of work that needs to be performed, Shmyhal said.

Simultaneously with the assessment of compliance with, adoption and implementation of European legislation, Ukraine will prepare for direct negotiations regarding the accession itself, Shmyhal said.

"What does this mean? Ukraine's negotiating position will be formed, and it will determine our strengths, the limits of compromises, how joining the EU will affect certain sectors of the economy and the state in general. Teams of negotiators from the Ukrainian side will be formed, who will be able to professionally discuss details in various areas. This will be the basis for the opening of official negotiations on accession. Next, we will face the path of negotiations, which should culminate in the signing of the agreement on Ukraine's accession to the EU. We expect to complete this path in less than two years. And then Ukraine will become a full member of the EU," Shmyhal said.

He added that after Ukraine's accession to the EU, all barriers to trade, restrictions on the movement of labor will be finally abolished, and Ukraine will gain access to structural and investment funds of the EU.

"The volume of work is colossal. At the same time, we see that our European partners are determined to cooperate productively in the matter of integration," Shmyhal said.

He noted that since 2014, the Russian leadership has concentrated a huge amount of resources in order to disrupt Ukraine's integration into the EU.

"After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia never accepted the fact that Ukraine is an independent state. Now they cannot accept that Ukraine will soon become part of the EU. For us, the question here is not in the format of 'if,' but in the format of 'when'," he added.

Now that Russia is doing everything to disrupt Ukraine's European integration, its achievements in this area look even more important, Shmyhal said.

On June 23, 2022, the heads of state and government of the European Union adopted a decision to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate country for joining the EU. The status is granted unconditionally, but some recommendations of the European Commission must be fulfilled.