Giving Ukraine candidate status will strengthen the entire European Union, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening video address on 11 June.
"The final phase of the big diplomatic marathon, which is to end in a week and a half, has started today. And in this marathon we are actually together with the European Union - in one team, and this team has to win. I am sure that we will soon receive an answer on the candidate status for Ukraine," he said.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine would continue to work even harder at all levels to secure the right decision, which is important.
"What else needs to happen in Europe to make it clear to skeptics that the very fact of keeping Ukraine outside the European Union works against Europe? For example, everything is already obvious to the Russian occupiers. They say so when they torment our people that it is allegedly for the fact that Ukraine has gone to Europe. And why does Europe have skeptics then?" the president wondered.
On 17 June, the European Commission may recommend granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, discussed Ukraine’s European integration with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv today.