Slowing down the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU would mean helping to achieve Russia's goals. That is why countering this intention of the Kremlin is the common task of our state and the European Union.

The representative of Ukraine to the European Union Vsevolod Chentsov spoke about this in an exclusive commentary for Channel 24 . According to him, in the context of a brutal war with Russia, Ukraine has come a long way, bringing it closer to EU membership.

The delay in Ukraine's accession to the EU contributes to Russia

Chentsov noted that the historic decision to grant candidate status to Ukraine showed that a large family of European Union countries sees it as a member of the EU.

This decision was not just a political signal of support during a brutal war or was based solely on a moral and value basis, but became a “moment of truth” for the EU, its geopolitical choice, the representative of Ukraine to the EU believes.

According to him, the European Union remains Ukraine's largest trading partner with a share of more than 55% in trade turnover in 2022. Ensuring the openness of trade between our state and the EU and its accelerated integration into the internal market of the European Union are important tasks for preserving the Ukrainian economy in the conditions of war and rapid economic recovery in the post-war period.

Chentsov added that slowing down the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU through Russia would mean helping to achieve the goals of the aggressor. That is why the common task of the EU and Ukraine is to counter this Russian intention.

“Today we are not asking to join the EU, but with the support of the EU we are overcoming the European integration agenda. Ukraine's membership will be an achievement and strengthening of the EU, because we are the guarantor of regional security,” the ambassador summed up.

Ukraine's accession to the EU: briefly

• Ukraine applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022. On June 23 of the same year, she officially acquired the status of a candidate.
• On March 6, Ukraine complied with all 7 EU recommendations. This was preceded by the appointment of a new director of NABU, Semyon Krivonos.
• The European Union agreed to provide our state with an intermediate assessment of the fulfillment of the criteria received with the status of a candidate. This move by Brussels should speed up EU accession negotiations.
• President Volodymyr Zelensky said that it is Ukraine's goal to start these negotiations in 2023.