Ukraine should start EU membership talks this year - Zelensky at meeting with Michel

MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Ukraine should start negotiations on its future membership in the European Union as early as this year, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said.

"Ukraine and the EU have already reached significant results in their historic integration. And we are working to achieve much more. Our goal is full-fledged membership in the EU," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying on Thursday at a joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel.

Zelensky thanked Michel for the EU's support of Ukraine's institutional development and the high assessment of Ukraine's implementation of the recommendations issued by the European Commission.

Hopefully, the next step on Ukraine's path to the EU may be the EU's interim positive assessment of the efforts undertaken by Ukraine, he said.

The parties also discussed preparations for the 24th EU-Ukraine summit, which is due to take place in Kiev in early February.

"We look forward to concrete results, we look forward to agreements," Zelensky said.

During his visit to Kiev, Michel also met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal, Ukrainian media said. The parties discussed, among other issues, further financial support for Ukraine from European partners, Shmygal's press service said.

"We thank the EU for its financial support: the first 3 billion euros from macro-financial assistance package of 18 billion euros arrived this week, the prime minister said.

Michel, in turn, said that the EU would continue to support Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian media reports, the European Council president also addressed the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada's plenary session.

All aspects of the EU's support for Ukraine, including on its path toward EU membership will be discussed at the upcoming EU-Ukraine summit, he said.

The European Commission granted EU candidate status to Ukraine in June of last year, Michel said.

"So the question of EU membership has been answered. Ukraine is the EU and the EU is Ukraine. We must spare no effort to turn this promise into reality as fast as we can," Michel said.