Ukraine begins official EU membership talks, Zelensky declares historic day
From today, it is inevitable that Ukraine will become a full-fledged member of the European Union, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, the day of the official start of accession talks. He emphasized that "this can only be achieved with Ukraine as part of a united Europe."
2:13 PM EDT, June 25, 2024
- Today is the day we have all worked for long and hard, stated Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday. Today marks the official, actual, and natural opening of negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union - added the Ukrainian president in a video posted on Telegram, where he appeared alongside Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.
He stated that his country will take action towards technical cooperation with the European Union and adapt its system to the EU's.
It depends on political will in Europe for the EU project to become truly complete, and this will be possible "only with Ukraine as part of a united Europe – a Europe of values, a Europe without splits, ideological walls and "gray zones," a Europe of peace – real peace" - emphasized Zelensky.
"Many people said it was nothing but a dream"
- When we signed the application for EU membership together on the fifth day of the full-scale war, many said it was nothing but a dream. But we made this dream a reality. We attained this, persuaded, and dispelled every doubt - continued the Ukrainian president.
He recalled the subsequent steps in the complicated procedure that led Ukraine to officially start accession negotiations. Between these steps, thousands of meetings and talks took place, conditions that Ukraine fully met, regulations that were adopted and now apply, noted the Ukrainian president.
In his opinion, the most important thing is the determination of the Ukrainian people and nation. The determination that has worked and that has not failed Ukraine and all of Europe proves that all Ukrainians together, all Europeans together, are capable of realizing even the biggest dreams—capable of winning, he said.
"We will achieve all of Ukraine's goals"
As Prime Minister Shmyhal noted, "According to the approved negotiating framework, we will go through all the sections of our relations and reach an agreement on each of them. We will definitely achieve this—just as we will achieve all other Ukrainian goals." - added the Prime Minister.
Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk recalled that Ukraine is currently following in the footsteps of the countries that eventually joined the EU.
- Every country that has become an EU member has gone through a similar format of negotiations. Ukraine will aim to do this faster than others, but invariably in the common interests of our country and the whole of Europe. We have adopted, are adopting and will continue to adopt all the necessary laws to ensure that Ukraine never separates from the European home again. We thank everyone who stands with Ukraine, everyone who believes in our people, who works with Ukraine, thus ensuring a stable future for the whole of Europe, secure from aggression.
