Ukrainian PM views Kiev's intention to prepare for joining EU in 2 years as realistic

MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal believes that Kiev's intention to prepare for accession to the European Union within two years is an ambitious, but realistic goal.

"We did not start moving to the EU yesterday. This integration process has been ongoing for a long time. Therefore, we believe that it is an ambitious but realistic goal and we can achieve the consensus of European states in the near future," Shmygal was quoted by the Ukrainian media as saying in an interview with the German publication Focus, the text of which is published by the Ukrainian government's press service.

According to the prime minister, there are other states in the EU history, which went their way to membership not in ten or 12, but in five or seven years.

"We want to live in a European, developed and civilized country. And we know exactly what it takes to do that. We are united in society and government, and therefore we can quickly adopt and approve European legislation and regulations," Shmygal said.