Zelensky on EU accession: Ukraine will be ready to open all negotiation clusters within days

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine will technically be ready to join the European Union by 2027, although some EU member states are still blocking the opening of negotiation clusters.

The head of state said this while answering journalists' questions, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"In just a few days, Ukraine will be technically ready to open all six clusters. We are ready, but not all leaders of the European Union are [ready]. You know why, you know who is the reason, who is blocking it. That is, not everyone is ready to give Ukraine this opportunity. Ukraine has repeatedly said that by 2027 it will be technically ready to become a member of the EU. Of course, this does not depend on Ukraine. Ukraine will do its work," Zelensky said.

In this context, he stressed the need to include a fixed date for Ukraine's accession to the EU in the peace plan, which currently consists of 20 points.

"We clearly understand that Putin, whatever he promises today to America or Europe, that he will not block Ukraine in the EU, is all a lie. He will block it through Hungary, through someone else," Zelensky said, explaining the need to include a fixed accession date in a peace agreement.

As reported, negotiations on the accession of new member states to the European Union are divided into 35 chapters, 33 of which are grouped into six thematic clusters that are opened sequentially. For each chapter, the European Commission first conducts an official screening to assess the compliance of Ukraine's legislation with EU law.

Hungary, using the principle of unanimity required for EU enlargement decisions, has been blocking the start of accession negotiations.

File photo