Zelensky urges EU to open remaining accession negotiations clusters without delay
Ukraine has completed the necessary work and is ready to move forward on its path toward membership in the European Union.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an address to the EU Intergovernmental Conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"What is happening today – the opening of the first cluster in the accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova – sends a clear message that Europe’s progress cannot be stopped. We have worked hard to reach this moment," Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian President emphasized that Ukraine and Moldova have taken important steps together in recent years.
"Our neighborhood with Moldova is strong. We support each other and are moving toward the EU together. And we will get there together," he stressed.
Zelensky said that one of the strongest responses Europe can give to Russia's attacks and ongoing acts of aggression is to accelerate the enlargement process.
The President noted that Ukraine often appears to have to fight harder than others to advance on its European path.
"It often feels as if we always have to fight harder than others to move forward on our path to the EU. Ukraine has earned the right to move faster. And that is exactly the political decision Europe needs today. We are ready for opening of all the clusters. We have done our work, and everyone in Europe knows this. So, let us move forward with opening the clusters without delay – the remaining five clusters following today's opening of the first one," Zelensky emphasized.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova under the first negotiation cluster marks a historic step forward, a group of Members of the European Parliament has said.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine