Zelensky convinced that all obstacles to starting EU accession talks should be gone this year

He stated this at a joint meeting of the Government of Ukraine and European Commission, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"This year should be the time when there won’t be a single obstacle left for the start of negotiations on Ukraine's full membership in the EU. Ukraine will do its part of the job, it must do it, and it will do it," the head of state said.

Zelensky recalled that the President of the European Commission handed him today a report on the second part of the questionnaire, which was provided by Ukraine before receiving the candidate status.

According to the head of state, based on the report, the government will begin a "meaningful self-assessment" to bring Ukrainian legislation into line with EU law.

The head of state informed that a national plan for rapprochement with the EU legislation will be created. It will be coordinated by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefanyshyna.

The president called on Ukrainian officials to work quickly on adapting Ukrainian legislation to European legislation.

At the same time, he expressed hope that the preliminary evaluation of the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations regarding the application for EU membership will be carried out this spring.

"We expect an important decision as early as this spring, we really want it to come this spring from our colleagues in the European Commission. The work of our government and Verkhovna Rada on the implementation of the seven recommendations outlined in the EC conclusion regarding our application is nearing completion. Accordingly, the time will come for an interim evaluation by the European Commission of the implementation of these recommendations," Zelensky noted.

The President emphasized that mentally, Ukraine and the EU are already together, that their institutions are uniting, and that it is impossible to imagine a united Europe without Ukraine.

"Ukraine and the European Union are no longer separate actors of European life. Our values are common. Our fate is common. Our enemy is common, our defense is common. And therefore, our lives are being united," Zelensky is convinced.

As reported, on February 2, a meeting of the members of the College of the European Commission headed by President Ursula von der Leyen with the Government of Ukraine is taking place in Kyiv. The topics for discussion include the support of Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, coordination of efforts to restore Ukraine, continuation of key reforms, and progress on Ukraine’s path toward EU membership.

On February 3, the 24th EU-Ukraine summit will be held in Kyiv.