Zelenskyy: Ukraine is closest to the EU since it gained independence

Kateryna Tyshchenko – Thursday, 16 June 2022, 22:24

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine has now moved the closest to the European Union it has ever been since it gained independence.

Source: Presidential video address

Quote:  "Ukraine is now the closest to the European Union it has been since independence."

Details: He noted that "thanks to the bravery of Ukrainian men and women, Europe can create this new history of freedom and finally remove the grey area between the EU and Russia in Eastern Europe."

The President reiterated that the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Johannis to Kyiv on Thursday [16 June  - ed.] had coincided with the sounding of an air raid siren.

"Russia has created a background for everyone to hear these sirens to create a tense atmosphere, but no-one was frightened. It only inspired us to be as specific as possible and to negotiate for our interests –  for all Ukrainians and for everyone in Europe," Zelenskyy stressed.

Background: The leaders of Germany, Italy, Romania and France called for "immediate" candidate status for EU membership for Ukraine after their meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

The European Commission is expected to give its opinion on Ukraine's, Georgia's and Moldova's applications for EU membership on 17 June.