Verkhovna Rada speaker hopes Ukraine will get EU candidate country status on June 24

MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk is hopeful that Ukraine will be granted European Union candidate country status on June 24, during the French presidency of the Council of the EU.

"I have spoken with President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher. I hope that on June 24, during France's presidency [of the Council of the EU], this great historic decision will be adopted," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Stefanchuk as saying on social media on Wednesday.

Larcher, in turn, provided assurances that Ukraine can count on France's support in its European integration ambitions, he said.

Larcher also accepted the invitation to visit Ukraine and promised to do it as soon as possible, Stefanchuk said.

"When I go to Kyiv, it will be in order to be useful to Ukraine," Stefanchuk quoted Larcher as saying.

Ukrainian media outlets also quoted Stefanchuk's interview with Politico. He said, for instance, that Europe was not feeling tired of Ukraine. "The meetings I have in EU countries demonstrate the opposite. There is a keen interest in Ukraine of both politicians and ordinary people, and this interest is growing," Stefanchuk said.

The skeptics who are losing interest in Ukraine have no interest in the future either, Stefanchuk said. It is important that European politicians hear and listen to Ukraine, he said.

"I view this as a priority and also believe that their decisions should support European principles and values," Stefanchuk said.

As reported earlier, Stefanchuk paid a working visit to Germany in early June. Currently, the Verkhovna Rada speaker is visiting France, and is planning trips to Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria in the coming days.