6 Jun 2022 11:05

Ukraine's full accession to EU unrealistic in near future - Austrian chancellor

MOSCOW. June 6 (Interfax) - Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has declared the need for "a European preparatory space" that would allow Ukraine and Moldova to reach standards of the European Union.

He described that as "an intermediate stage between cooperation and full membership of the European Union."

"We are united by the same goal; we all want a strong, independent and economically successful Ukraine. [...] In such a phase, a quick full accession to the European Union cannot be a pressing issue anyway," the Ukrainian media quoted Nehammer as saying in an interview with Kronen Zeitung.

"The emotion needs to be taken out of the current debate, and the same standards used for other applicants from the West Balkans should apply," he said.

"In my opinion, the quick full accession of Ukraine is unrealistic," Nehammer said.