Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday urged visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to launch talks on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union (EU), Zelensky’s press service reported.
“It is time for a positive decision to launch negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union,” Zelensky told reporters after talks with von der Leyen in the Ukrainian capital.
Kiev is counting on receiving a positive interim assessment of Ukraine’s progress on the path of European integration by the European Commission in June, Zelensky said.
For her part, von der Leyen spoke positively of Ukraine’s efforts towards the fulfillment of the seven requirements put forward by the European Commission for starting the accession talks.
“I would like to express my deepest respect for this work. Please know that you can rely on our expertise and support in this ongoing process,” said von der Leyen, who arrived in Kiev earlier in the day.
In June 2022, EU leaders accepted Ukraine as a candidate for membership in the bloc.
In January this year, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine aims to become a member of the EU within the next two years.