Following the EU-Ukraine summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there is an understanding that "negotiations on Ukraine's membership of the European Union can begin this year".
"We are already speaking as members of the European community. And we are working to fix it de jure. There is an understanding that we can start negotiations on Ukraine's membership of the European Union this year. Our partners also understand that this year, just like last year, we must constantly strengthen defence support for our state and pressure on Russia," the president said in a video address.
He noted that Ukraine's greater integration into the EU internal market was being prepared.
"...This means higher revenues for Ukrainian companies, more production and jobs in our country, revenues for state and local budgets," Zelenskyy said.
He also said that the EU had officially supported the Ukrainian peace formula. "This is recorded in the final statement of the summit. And we have agreed on concrete assistance from the EU in implementing our peace formula," the president added.
The EU-Ukraine summit took place in Kyiv on 3 February. The day before, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine's goal is to be ready for EU membership by the end of 2024.
The EU analysed Ukraine's efforts to implement key reforms on the way to joining the bloc.