Ukraine aims start EU membership talks by year end - Stefanchuk

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"The opening of negotiations on full membership is an event that is several levels higher than granting the status of a candidate country. This is the finishing line to Ukraine's accession to the EU. We will do our best to start the membership negotiations by the end of this year," Stefanchuk said.

In this context, he noted that Ukraine's desire to start membership negotiations by the end of the year was supported by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, at the last meeting with the members of the Ukrainian and the European Parliaments.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an application for Ukraine's membership in the European Union on February 28, 2022. On June 23, EU heads of state and government decided to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate country for EU membership.

On March 4, 2023, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola expressed hope that negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU would begin this year.