Zelenskyy: Ukraine's EU Accession Talks Progressing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed gratitude to Cyprus for its "fruitful and meaningful" presidency of the European Union Council, highlighting significant progress in Ukraine's path toward EU membership. During Cyprus's six-month term, the first negotiation chapter was officially opened, marking a crucial step in the accession process.

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Thank you to Cyprus for its fruitful and meaningful presidency of the Council of the European Union. During these six months, we managed to open the first negotiation chapter and officially start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. We have begun implementing the European Union's financial support package worth 90 billion euros. The 20th package of sanctions against Russia has been approved. All these historic steps have strengthened Ukraine and our Europe. I am grateful for such effective work and for our cooperation.

Zelenskyy, speaking via the social media platform X, also credited the Cypriot presidency with advancing a 90 billion euro EU financial support package for Ukraine and approving the 20th sanctions package against Russia. He described these actions as "historic steps" that have strengthened both Ukraine and Europe.

With Ireland now assuming the EU Council presidency, Zelenskyy conveyed his congratulations and anticipation for continued momentum. He expressed strong hope that the upcoming months would not be lost and that negotiations on the remaining five chapters could begin promptly, citing no "essential obstacles" to this progress. The president also reiterated expectations for escalating pressure on Russia.

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Congratulations to Ireland and we very much hope that not a single month of this six-month period will be lost. Currently, in July, there is a high probability that negotiations on the remaining five negotiation chapters will be launched. There are no essential obstacles to this.

Furthermore, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's vulnerability to long-range strikes and called for decisive actions from Europe and its partners to reinforce these achievements. He stressed the importance of the EU effectively implementing all programs that bolster Europe, particularly in defense cooperation, stating Ukraine's readiness to actively participate. "Our collective strength and unity are the foundation of our collective security," he added.

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Ukraine is ready to work actively, because our collective strength and unity are the foundation of our collective security.