Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: Ukraine's full Euro-Atlantic integration is condition for peace in Europe and North America

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has stated that full integration of Ukraine into the military and political structures of the Euro-Atlantic area is necessary for long-term peace in Europe and North America.

The Foreign Ministry stressed on the 12th anniversary of the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion that Ukraine has been and remains an integral part of a united Europe, without which it is impossible to imagine the security architecture of the European continent.

"In this sense, full integration of Ukraine into the military and political structures of the Euro-Atlantic area is not only a requirement of time but also a necessity to ensure effective collective security and preserve long-term peace in Europe and North America," the statement reads.

The ministry emphasised that Ukraine is already a key centre of strength in Europe today because it is the Ukrainian military, with the support of allies, that is containing the war machine of aggressive Russia, which poses an existential threat to the entire Euro-Atlantic community.

"We expect further increase in support for Ukraine's defence forces and full integration of Ukraine into European political and security architecture so that our joint efforts aimed at ending war succeed as quickly as possible," the Foreign Ministry concludes.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the European Union to set the date of Ukraine's accession to the EU without delay so that over the next 50 years Russia cannot block its membership.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa believe that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is gradually weakening Russia and further pressure will force it to stop aggression.