Zelenskyy welcomes EU report praising Ukraine’s membership progress

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday hailed the European Commission’s Enlargement Package report, saying it confirmed that Ukraine is “confidently moving toward EU membership” and ready to open negotiation Clusters 1, 2, and 6.

“This is the best assessment to date—proof that even as we defend against Russia’s full-scale aggression, Ukraine continues to reform and transform according to European standards,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

He praised the “efforts of millions of Ukrainians” working toward European integration, expressing gratitude to “our brave warriors who fight for Ukraine and for the very possibility of a safe, united, and free Europe.”

Zelenskyy urged Brussels to take “decisive action to overcome all artificial obstacles for a strong and united Europe,” emphasizing that “unity and strength are two key elements for the European project to succeed.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also welcomed the EU report, noting that Chapter 31 — covering foreign, security, and defense policy — received a high evaluation, underscoring Kyiv’s “great job in synchronizing sanctions against Russia with the EU and ensuring 99% alignment with the EU’s foreign policy statements.”

Sybiha said Ukraine has completed the screening process and “stands ready to open negotiation clusters,” calling it “the next logical step” toward membership.

“Ukraine’s membership in the EU is a security guarantee for our country and the best long-term investment in the entire European continent’s security,” he said in a statement.

"A stronger and safer Europe is impossible without Ukraine as its integral part," Sybiha added.

Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022, received candidate status four months later, and launched accession talks in December 2023. The first intergovernmental conference was held in June 2024.