Von der Leyen hands over EU admission questionnaire to Zelensky

KYIV. April 11 (Interfax-Ukraine) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has handed over an EU admission questionnaire to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

As she spoke at a press conference on Friday after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, von der Leyen said the EU and Ukraine had intersecting paths, Ukraine's path to the EU was beginning, and it would not be long. She said she was giving Zelensky a questionnaire, formal recommendations, that needed to be answered.

"Finally, we are with you as you dream of Europe. Dear Volodymyr, my message today is clear: Ukraine belongs in the European family. We have heard your request, loud and clear. And today, we are here to give you a first, positive answer. In this envelope, [...] there is an important step towards EU membership. This questionnaire is the basis for our discussion in the coming months," she said.

Von der Leyen said the process of Ukraine's admission to the EU would not take years, as it usually happens, but just weeks.

For his part, Zelensky said that Ukraine and the EU shared the same values: freedom, dignity, the right to make a choice, and human rights.

"This is a very strong message, which indicates that Ukraine and the European Union are together. This proves we will be working together. Most importantly, we share the same values. These are the values we are fighting for: freedom, rights of our people, the right to make a choice, the right to defend, be born, live, live a long life in our free country," Zelensky said.

He thanked the European Commission president for the 5th package of anti-Russian sanctions.

"I am personally grateful to Ursula von der Leyen for the 5th package of sanctions, but think this is still not enough," Zelensky said.