Zelenskyy to von der Leyen: Date for EU accession matters for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on a recent statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said last week that setting a specific date for Ukraine's accession to the European Union is currently impossible.
Zelenskyy said during an online briefing with journalists that within a few days Ukraine would be technically ready to open all six negotiation clusters, meaning that further progress would depend on the political will of EU member states.
"We are ready, but not all European Union leaders are. You know why, you know who the reason is, who is blocking this. Not everyone is ready to give Ukraine this opportunity," he said.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine could not rely on any promises from Russia not to interfere with its EU membership bid, as Moscow could try to obstruct the process indirectly, including through Hungary.
"But of course he [Vladimir Putin] does not want Ukraine to become a full member of the EU. That is why our position has been that we need a clear date for the end of the war, a document to be signed by partners – including Russia – and our partners. EU membership is also a security guarantee for Ukraine. That is why we need a specific date," he said.
The president reiterated that Ukraine will be technically ready to join the EU by 2027.
"If they truly believe in Ukraine, if they want to see Ukraine in the EU, then during the end of the war they have the opportunity to give Ukraine a specific date – and not make the same mistake they made with NATO," Zelenskyy added.
On 24 February, Zelenskyy called on the EU to set a membership date without delay so that Russia would not be able to block Ukraine's accession for decades.
In an interview with European Pravda, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that any decision on accelerated accession would ultimately be made by member states and confirmed the accession criteria for Ukraine.
Kos also confirmed the criteria for Ukraine's accession to the European Union that had previously been published by European Pravda.
Read more in the full interview - We don't need Orbán to tell Ukraine how to join the EU: an interview with commissioner Marta Kos