Talks on Ukraine's EU membership can be launched this year - Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his nightly video address on Friday, February 3, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Today, there was a lot of confidence in this during the summit. We spoke and are already speaking as members of the European community. And we are working to fix this de jure. What exactly did we agree on today? There is an understanding that it is possible to start negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union this year," he said.

Video: Office of the President of Ukraine

According to Zelensky, the partners also understand that this year, as last year, it is necessary to continuously step up security assistance to Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia, particularly the sanctions pressure.

He specified that they the 10th EU sanctions package, which is currently being prepared, was discussed at the Ukraine-EU Summit on February 3.

"There are our proposals for this package – we announced them to our partners today. We discussed changes in the institutions of our state, which we are implementing. And which we are still preparing to implement. Financial cooperation was discussed. Of course, we discussed the restoration of infrastructure, primarily social and energy infrastructure," Zelensky said.

He noted that the implementation of Ukraine's Fast Recovery Plan had also been discussed. Zelensky thanked the European Commission for the decision on EUR 1 billion, which will be spent on the Fast Recovery Plan.

Separately, the president said that on Friday he spoke in Kyiv with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.

"He [Mariusz Blaszczak], together with other partners and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, took part in the third meeting of the states that are members of our tank coalition. We are doing everything to ensure that our soldiers receive modern tanks as soon as possible," Zelensky said.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine