Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is being given the status of a candidate country for EU membership

Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Ukrainians about granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. He stressed that the decision officially recognizes that our country is not a bridge, not a cushion between the West and the Russian Federation, not a buffer between Europe and Asia, not a sphere of influence, not a gray zone, not a transit territory. Ukraine is a future equal partner for at least 27 EU countries.

“KP in Ukraine” identified the main theses at the President’s address:

• Candidate status is a new volume in history European integration of Ukraine. Now, at the official level, it is fixed that Ukraine will become a member of the EU in the future.
• Candidate status is an obligatory stage that most countries passed. This is a new status and a new style. For us, this means that Ukraine is a future equal partner for at least 27 EU countries.
• This status is a recognition of achievements in the development of a mature democratic European society. This is a powerful political message.
• Giving our country the status of a candidate is a high appreciation of the changes in Ukraine that we have integrated into the EU economy in energy, digital sphere, customs and other key areas. This is access to new EU financial support programs, investments, projects, jobs, support for post-war reconstruction.
• Since that time, Ukraine is not a third world country. Now our country can join the work of individual EU bodies and new programs, access to which is limited for third countries. Today we have got rid of this humiliating definition.
• Ukraine will continue to implement EU legislation, norms and rules. To this end, the government will develop an appropriate roadmap based on the recommendations of the European Commission.
• Ukraine seeks not to join, but to return to the European family. We have chosen the path we fought for during the revolution on granite, the orange revolution and the revolution of dignity. That is why the Russian Federation appeared on it.

The day before, Natalia Forsyuk, Director General of the Government Office for the Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, expressed the opinion that the expected date for Ukraine's accession to the EU is 2029.