Ukraine deserves to start EU accession talks this year - Zelensky

MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky believes that talks on Ukraine's accession to the European Union may start as soon as this year.

"Ukraine deserves to reach the beginning of negotiations on EU membership this year already," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying in an overnight video address.

During the talks with the European Commission, "we reached a very important mutual understanding that only together a strong Ukraine and a strong European Union can protect life," he said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal, for his part, said that Ukraine wants to be ready for negotiations on full-fledged membership in the EU by the end of 2023, and for EU membership by the end of 2024.

"Ukraine's efforts were positively assessed by representatives of the European Commission. We expect that in spring the European Commission will provide formalized conclusions on our progress, and at the end of 2023 will make a recommendation to the European Council regarding the start of negotiations on accession to the EU," Ukrainian media quoted Shmygal as saying at a press conference following a joint meeting of the Ukrainian government and the European Commission in Kiev on Thursday.

All seven points of the European Commission's recommendations have either been implemented or significant progress has been made on them, and there is an understanding when they will be implemented, he said.

"When I say that Ukraine has an ambition to be ready to join in two years, it means that we want to take all necessary steps to put on the table for our European partners the fulfillment of all conditions for granting Ukraine the status of a European Union member, this is our homework," Shmygal said.