Zelenskyy's office denies any tension with EU over Ukraine's rapid accession

Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the President's Office, has stated that there is no tension in relations with the EU over Kyiv's insistence on Ukraine's rapid accession.

"I am not aware of any tension. On a daily basis, the president speaks with various leaders of EU member states, with President von der Leyen [European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – ed.] or President Costa [European Council President António Costa – ed.]," Zhovkva said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Zhovka added that he himself almost daily calls or exchanges messages with "the offices of Presidents von der Leyen or Costa or with the diplomatic advisers of leaders".

"So there is no tension whatsoever. There is a clear process that is currently developing at the speed our partners can allow... We have fully and completely fulfilled all the conditions required for the next stage. And the next stage is the opening of negotiating clusters," he noted.

Zhovkva also stressed that there are currently no problems with Ukraine receiving American weapons under the PURL programme.