Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky is a Ukrainian artist, screenwriter, producer and politician. Volodymyr (sometimes) insisted on the rapid accession of his country to the European Union after the summit in Kyiv with the EU leaders, reported DPA.

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"We spoke and are now speaking as members of the European community. The statute simply needs to be enshrined in law," Zelensky said during his evening video address. 

Earlier, however, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Kyiv still has a long way to go before becoming a member of the European Union.

However, Zelensky said that at last night's summit in Kyiv, EU leaders kept the prospect of opening accession talks open.

Ursula von der Leyen: There is no strict timetable for Ukraine's accession to the EU

"There is an understanding that it is possible that negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU will begin this year," he said.

Lawmakers from Brussels have made no such concrete statements, although von der Leyen praised the Ukrainian leader's determination and will to reform in Kyiv.

She emphasized that the work is pending and no schedule has been set yet.

"We are preparing Ukraine for wider integration into the EU internal market - this means more income for Ukrainian companies, more production and jobs in our country, as well as more income for the state and local budgets. Ukraine will do everything in its power to to ensure that Russian aggression will become "suicide" for Moscow", Zelensky also pointed out. 

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky

EU membership