Von der Leyen says Ukraine's EU accession a matter of justice and security
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this in her speech at the annual EU Ambassadors Conference in Brussels, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"Ukraine needs peace through strength. The people of Ukraine have resisted for so long because they want to be free, and they want to be part of our Union. This is their aspiration, rightly so. And no one can take this away from them. It is a matter of justice. But it is also a matter of security, stability and prosperity. This is a core interest for Ukraine and for all of Europe. And we will make it happen. And this is not only about Ukraine. In a world where size and weight matter, and where small countries can be blackmailed more easily, it is in our shared interest to unite the European family," von der Leyen said.
She noted that 2025 must be a year of progress for countries that are on their merits-based path to joining the EU.
"Completing our Union is in our core interest. And it will be a core priority in the five years ahead of us," she added.
Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in 2022 and began intergovernmental accession talks in 2024. The Ukrainian government aims to open at least two negotiation clusters -- on fundamental principles and foreign affairs -- within the next six months during Poland's EU presidency.
