Ukrainian top leaders sign joint statement on path to full EU membership
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The document was signed at a parliamentary meeting ahead of a speech to be given by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
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"Today we are signing a joint statement, which is a signal of the unity of all branches of government and is evidence of our determination to achieve Ukraine's strategic goal, namely full membership in the European Union," the president said.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine must move quickly from gaining candidate status to full membership.
"Our path to membership should not take years, decades," he said.
"We have to overcome this path quickly. Whenever possible, it's up to us. To make our part of the job perfect to enable our friends in the European Union to make another historic decision for us just as quickly and in a consolidated way."
The president also said that all civil servants should accept their duty to work for the European choice as a struggle for the state, a struggle for Ukraine.
"We must prepare the state for the start of membership talks as intensively and responsibly as we prepared the decision on the candidacy," he added.
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Zelensky noted that many decisions would also depend on the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and each of the lawmakers.
"The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement has already been implemented by 63%, and 37% remain tasks for all of us, for our state," he emphasized.
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"But you still have to develop them, defend them before your colleagues and pass dozens of important bills. It will also be difficult. However, there is no alternative to this."
President Zelensky stated that this was a historic moment in relations between Ukraine and the EU.
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The European Council invited the European Commission to report on the fulfillment of the conditions for membership by the candidate countries, and promised to decide on further steps "as soon as all these conditions are fully met."
