Zelensky hands over completed EU membership questionnaire to Maasikas

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18.04.2022 18:30

Ukrinform

President Volodymyr Zelensky handed over a completed questionnaire for obtaining EU candidate country status to Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas.

"I want to thank you for this important meeting. Today is one of the stages for our country to join the European Union, the aspiration that our people are striving for and fighting for," the President said, the press service of the President's Office reports.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine's movement towards the EU is taking place at a very tragic time when many Ukrainians who profess European values lose their lives. According to him, the people of Ukraine are united by this goal – to feel equal, part of Europe, part of the EU.

"We believe that we will gain support and become a candidate for accession. Then the next, the final stage will begin. We strongly believe that this procedure will take place in the coming weeks and that it will be positive for the history of our people, given the price they have paid on the path towards independence and democracy," the President said.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine noted that he also feels part of the team working to acquire the status of a candidate country for EU accession. He noted that this process is taking place in a very difficult situation for Ukraine, but everyone feels the importance and significance of this moment.

According to Maasikas, Ukraine's questionnaire will be analyzed very quickly.

Another step on Ukraine's EU path. Honoured to receive from @ZelenskyyUa the answers to @EU_Commission questionnaire, handed over by @vonderleyen only 10 days ago. Extraordinary times take extraordinary steps and extraordinary speed. @Denys_Shmyhal @StefanishynaO @AndriyYermak pic.twitter.com/UaNPOrhPST
— Matti Maasikas (@MattiMaasikas) April 18, 2022

As reported, Deputy Head of the President's Office Ihor Zhovkva said on April 17 that Ukraine had already completed a questionnaire for EU candidate status and expects a relevant decision to be made at the European Council meeting in June.

On April 8, during a visit to Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen handed over a questionnaire to Zelensky.

Photo credit: President's Office